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Online content for Ebola exceeds suggested reading levels
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Information on the Ebola virus posted on public health agency websites is written above the recommended reading level, according to recent findings.
Researchers from the CDC downloaded information on Ebola intended for public consumption from the websites of several public health agencies, including the CDC, the European Centre for Disease Control, Public Health England, the Canadian government, the Australian government, and WHO. They used readability indicators that included the Gunning FOG Index, the Flesch Reading Ease formula, the Linsear Write Formula, and the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level. All methods calculate readability scores by analyzing word- and syllable-sentence proportions and correlating them with the number of years of US education needed to comprehend the content.
In terms of reading difficulty, the mean Flesch Reading Ease score for all content was 48.85 (95% CI, 40.69-57), which was considered difficult. Content on WHO’s website was considered easiest to read (62.3), while information from Australia was rated most difficult to read (42).
The mean Gunning FOG Index was 12.6 (95% CI, 10.83-14.36), which also suggested difficult-to-read content. This indicator also ranked WHO content as being the easiest to read and the Australian website content as most difficult.
Information from Public Health England and Canada were found to be written at a 12th-grade reading level, while CDC and WHO content required a ninth-grade level.
The Automated Readability Index for all content was 10.7 (95% CI, 8.62-12.77) and was written at an age level of 15 to 16 years. The Linsear Write Formula found the content from Public Health England and Australia to be written at the most demanding level (14.1, or college level) and the CDC text was written at an eighth-grade level for comprehension (8.4). The mean result for all content was 11.95 (95% CI, 9.3-14.49).
The researchers said the poor readability results may prevent readers with low literacy from understanding key Ebola virus disease (EVD) messages and may serve as a barrier to the adoption of appropriate health-seeking behaviors.
“Public health agencies in non–Ebola virus disease-affected countries must improve the readability of EVD information currently provided so that the public could adopt effective self-care strategies, avoid fear, and reduce unnecessary panic and stigma toward persons affected by Ebola,” the researchers wrote. “In addition, agencies should consider multimodal Ebola awareness campaigns, including social marketing interventions, to encourage and strengthen public participation in Ebola control efforts.” – by Jen Byrne
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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