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BMC Oral Health
Published in: BMC Oral Health 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research article

How readable are Australian paediatric oral health education materials?

Authors: Amit Arora, Andy SF Lam, Zahra Karami, Loc Giang Do, Mark Fort Harris

Published in: BMC Oral Health | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Background

The objective of this study was to analyse the readability of paediatric oral health education leaflets available in Australia.

Methods

Forty paediatric oral health education materials were analysed for general readability according to the following parameters: Thoroughness; Textual framework; Terminology; and Readability (Flesch-Kincaid grade level (FKGL), Gunning Fog index (Fog) and Simplified Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG)).

Results

Leaflets produced by the industry were among the hardest to read with an average readability at the 8th grade (8.4 ± 0.1). The readability of leaflets produced by the commercial sector was at the 7th grade (7.1 ± 1.7) and the government at the 6th grade (6.3 ± 1.9). The FKGL consistently yielded readabilities 2 grades below the Fog and SMOG indexes. In the content analyses, 14 essential paediatric oral health topics were noted and Early Childhood Caries (ECC) was identified as the most commonly used jargon term.

Conclusion

Paediatric oral health education materials are readily available, yet their quality and readability vary widely and may be difficult to read for disadvantaged populations in Australia. A redesign of these leaflets while taking literacy into consideration is suggested.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
How readable are Australian paediatric oral health education materials?
Authors
Amit Arora
Andy SF Lam
Zahra Karami
Loc Giang Do
Mark Fort Harris
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Oral Health / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6831
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6831-14-111

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