Readability of state-sponsored advance directive forms in the United States: a cross sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

State governments provide preprinted advance directive forms to the general public. However, many adults in the United States (US) lack the skills necessary to read and comprehend health care-related materials. In this study, we sought to determine the readability of state government-sponsored advance directive forms.

Methods

A cross sectional study design was used. The readability of advance directive forms available online from all 50 US states and the District of Columbia was determined using 6 validated readability scales.

Results

Overall, 62 advance directive forms were obtained. For 47 states, forms were available by way of government-sponsored Web sites. The average (SD) readability (with the Flesch-Kincaid score) of all forms was grade level 11.9 (2

SUBMITTER: Mueller LA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2868033 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature