Assessment of the readability of patient-facing materials for the most commonly prescribed medicines in Ireland

Background: Patient-facing medicine information materials are essential to support the safe use of medicines, empowering patients to make informed decisions about their health. This study aimed to evaluate the readability of patient information materials on medicines for the top 100 most commonly dispensed medicines in Ireland.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in September 2024. The readability of patient information leaflets, decision aids and online information from the health service in both Ireland and the UK was assessed using the Sydney Health Literacy (SHeLL) Editor, which utilizes the Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) index to estimate the number of years of education required to understand a piece of writing.

Results: Overall, 265 different information sources on 88 medicines were identified and included in this analysis. The average readability score was 10.28 (SD 1.24), exceeding the optimal target of below eight, which corresponds to an 8th-grade reading level. While all materials exceeded the optimal target score, patient decision aids consistently demonstrated better readability compared to PILs and other online health resources.

Discussion: These findings highlight the need for improved patient information tools to enhance patient understanding, particularly among those with limited health literacy. This study advocates for further research and targeted interventions to simplify written medicines information to address existing communication gaps and ensure equitable access to healthcare information.

Plain Language Summary: Clear and easy-to-understand medicine information is crucial for helping patients use medicines safely and make informed decisions about their health. This study was conducted in September 2024 and examined the readability of different types of patient information for the 100 most commonly prescribed medicines in Ireland. We used the Sydney Health Literacy Editor (SHeLL) tool, which utilizes the Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) index to assess readability. We found that the average readability score was 10.28, well above the target score of less than eight. Decision support tools were the easiest to read, while patient information leaflets and online resources prepared by the health service were more difficult. These findings show that current materials are too complex for many patients, especially those with limited health literacy. Current written medicine information is often not fit for purpose and needs to be clearer and better targeted to meet patients’ needs.