Patient Education Materials Study Shows Gap in Recommended Reading Levels

A recent study looked at the content and quality of online patient education material related to postoperative opioid use in pain management. Read the results in the summary.

Researchers designed and conducted a study to compare the readability of widely available online Patient education materials (PEMs)  related to postoperative opioid management. Previous studies have shown that patient education materials (PEMs) should be written at, or below a sixth grade reading level to maximize patient/caregiver reading comprehension as well as compliance with instructions relative to pharmacological interventions. 

After analyzing the data, the researchers conducting the study found that:

  • Available online PEMs related to opioid management are written at an average reading level closer to 8th grade instead of 6th grade 
  • Less than half of these materials contained discussion of opioid tapering or cessation

Access the full study: Quality of Patient Education Materials on Safe Opioid Management in the Acute Perioperative Period: What Do Patients Find Online?

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