Readability, presentation and quality of allergy-related patient information leaflets: a cross sectional and longitudinal study

Objective: Patient information leaflets (PILs) are widely used to reinforce or illustrate health information and to complement verbal consultation. The objectives of the study were to assess the readability and presentation of PILs published by Allergy UK, and to conduct a longitudinal assessment to evaluate the impact of leaflet amendment and revision on readability. Methods: Readability of Allergy UK leaflets available in 2013 was assessed using Simple Measure of Gobbledegook (SMOG) and Flesch-Kincaid Reading Grade Formula. Leaflet presentation was evaluated using the Clear Print Guidelines of the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and the Patient Information Appraisal System developed by the British Medical Association (BMA). Changes in the leaflets’ readability scores over five years were investigated. Results: 108 leaflets, covering a wide range of allergic conditions and treatment options, were assessed. The leaflets had average SMOG and Flesch-Kincaid scores of 13.9 (range 11-18, SD 1.2) and 10.9 (range 5-17, SD 2.1) respectively. All leaflets met the RNIB Clear Print guidelines, with the exception of font size which was universally inadequate. The leaflets scored on average 10 (median 10, range 7-15) out of a maximum of 27 on the BMA checklist. The overall average SMOG score of 31 leaflets available in both 2008 and 2013 had not changed significantly. The process of leaflet revision resulted in 1% change in readability scores overall, with a predominantly upward trend with six leaflets increasing their readability score by >10% and only three decreasing by >10%. Conclusion: Allergy-related patient information leaflets are well presented but have readability levels that are higher than those recommended for health information. Involving service users in the process of leaflet design, together with systematic pre-publication screening of readability would enhance the accessibility and comprehensibility of written information for people with allergy and their careers

Developing Comprehensive Diabetes Education Materials for Structured Patient Education Programs in Primary Care Setting

Diabetes education is a key factor for a successful diabetes care. Comprehensive diabetes education materials for conducting structured diabetes education programs were rarely found in primary care setting in Indonesia. There was a need for developing new, comprehensive diabetes education materials for low-literate readers. Developing these education materials followed standard steps in developing print materials, and took account tips for writing low literacy materials for poor readers. The new diabetes education materials consisted of ten various leaflets, also printed as14 posters and 14 x-banners. The ten diabetes leaflets were pre-tested to 5 people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). After minor revisions, the leaflets were printed and distributed to 88 people with T2D attending two structured diabetes education programs in Yogyakarta City. These 88 people were requested to evaluate the leaflets using an evaluation form consisting of four items on language usage, font size, use of pictures, and diabetes information with a 1-10 rating scale; and an open-ended question for improvement. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the results. Most participants thought that the leaflets were easy to understand and read, interesting, and simple. Majority of participants (79.7%) gave favorable comments without providing suggestions for improvement, such as: “The diabetes leaflets are already good and easy to understand” One third of the participants gave suggestions for improvement. The comprehensive diabetes leaflets developed were well received and highly appreciated by people with T2D attending diabetes education programs

Egg Production and Packaging Control of Quality and Safety in Organic Production Chains

This leaflet provides a practical overview for producers and others involved in egg production and packaging, of what can be done at these steps to improve quality and safety of organically produced eggs, in addition to certification and general food safety require-ments. Other leaflets cover production of other commodities and separate leaflets aim at consumers and retailers

Production of White Cabbage Control of Quality and Safety in Organic Production Chains

This leaflet provides a practical overview for producers and others involved in white cabbage production and packaging, of what can be done at these steps to improve the quality and safety of organi-cally produced cabbage, in addition to certification and general food safety requirements. Other leaflets cover production of other commodities and separate leaflets aim at consumers and retailers

Production of Bread Wheat Control of Quality and Safety in Organic Production Chains

This leaflet provides a practical overview for producers and others involved in wheat production and storage, on what can be done at these steps to improve the quality and safety of organically pro-duced wheat, in addition to certification and general food safety requirements. A separate leaflet covers the milling and baking steps, and other leaflets cover other commodities and separate leaflets aim at consumers and retailers

“The POW Will Safely Return!”: Second World War Allied and German Propoganda

During the Second World War, both the Allied and Axis governments expended significant resources in the production and dissemination of propoganda. Directed at their own people, the propoganda of these governments fostered correct thinking, feelings, attitudes, and behaviours. Directed at military personnel of enemy nations as part of psychological warfare operations, this propoganda was far more subversive. Its goal was to undermine the efficiency and coherence of enemy forces and, ultimately, to weaken their will to fight. Among the different media harnessed to achieve this end, aerial leaflets hold a unique place in the history of psychological warfare operations. Their efficacy was debated during and after the war yet these leaflets were disseminated in the millions and collected by soldiers of both sides. It is for this reason, among others, that although inherently ephemeral, Second World War leaflets have been preserved in archival collections, including the Goerge Metcalf rchives of the Canadian War Museum. In the following pages, we will highlight 12 leaflets from this collection, six produced by the Psychological Warfare Division, Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditioanry Force (PWD) and six by the SS Standarte Kurt Eggers of the German Waffen SS (SKE), all of which encourage enemy combatants to surrender. But what arguments did the psychological warriors of the opposing sides think would convince their target audiences to take this step? What inducements did they offer? What justifications did they provide? And in what ways were the leaflets produced by the opposing sides different or the same

The Effect of Leaflet on Reproductive Health Media Accessing Behavior Among Students in Medan North Sumatera

Background: Psychological changes in adolescents can be influenced due to hormonal changes in the body and the desire to express sexual appetite so that it can result in increased sexual problems such as increased premarital sexual behavior or free sex. Therefore, it is necessary to do an intervention step to be able to increase information and knowledge for adolescents about reproductive health. This study aimed to determine the effect of information through leaflets on the habit of accessing media related to reproductive health and premarital sexual attitudes on students at Vocational School (VS) Parulian I Medan. Subjects and Method: This was quasi experimental with One Group Pretest-Posttest Design without a control group. The study was conducted from May to July 2019. A total of 133 students of class X and XI of Medan Parulian I Vocational School was selected for this study. The data were collected using a questionnaire. The data was analyzed by Wilcoxon. Results: The habit of accessing media after being given information through leaflets (Mean=1.59; SD= 0.49) was higher compared to before getting information through leaflets (Mean= 1.26; SD= 0.44), and statistically significant (p<0.001). Pre-sexual behavior marriage after got the information through leaflets (Mean= 42.38; SD= 11.11) was higher than before got the information through leaflets (Mean= 38.92; SD= 11.97), and statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: Information in the leaflet improved the habit of accessing media related to reproductive health and positive premarital sexual attitudes

Production of Tomatoes Control of Quality and Safety in Organic Production Chains

This leaflet provides a practical overview for producers and others involved in tomato production and packaging, of what can be done at these steps to improve quality and safety of organically pro-duced tomatoes, in addition to certification and general food safety requirements. Other leaflets cover production of other commodities and separate leaflets aim at consumers and retailers

Grape production and Wine Processing. Control of Quality and Safety in Organic Production Chains

This leaflet provides a practical overview for producers and others involved in grape production and wine processing, of what can be done at these steps to improve the quality and safety of organically produced wine, in addition to certification and general food safety requirements. Other leaflets cover production of other commodities and separate leaflets aim at consumers and retailers

Authenticity and Fraud Information to Retailers regarding Control of Quality and Safety in Organic Production Chains

This leaflet provides a practical overview for retailers of what is done to secure the authenticity and integrity of organically produced foods, where improvements are possible and what the retailers can do to support efforts that meet their customers’ demands. Other leaflets for retailers cover taste, freshness and nutrients or safety and contamination, and separate leaflets aim at consumers or at production of specific commodities