Readability of the educational material written for diabetic patients

Abstract

It is unquestionable the importance of the educational material in the process of education in diabetes as a strategy that makes learning, autonomy and adhesion to patient easier, contributing to the development of attitudes and skills. Although it is one of the most used resources in the process of education in diabetes, it is not always adequate to the target audience mainly when it refers to legibility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the readability of the written educational material for diabetic patients, produced in the period of 1991-2001, by Health Ministry, Health State Secretary of Paraiba and laboratories that make medicine and supplies for diabetic patients using the Flesch readability formula. The sample was constituted by 41 records (books, folders and pamphlets). It was certified that only 51,2% of the records showed a legibility rate that classifies them as easy reading material.