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Research Article| Volume 37, ISSUE 3, P465.e27-465.e34, May 2023

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Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Voice: An Updated Readability Analysis

      Summary

      Purpose

      The purpose of this study was to investigate whether voice-related patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) developed and validated since 2011 meet the recommendation by health literacy experts that such materials be written at a fifth-to-sixth grade reading level.

      Method

      A readability analysis of eight voice-related PROMs was conducted. Readability formulas utilized were the Coleman-Liau index, Flesch-Kincaid reading ease, FORCAST, simple measure of Gobbledygook index, and Gunning-Fog score.

      Result

      Three-fourths of the PROMs exceeded the recommended fifth- to sixth-grade reading level.

      Conclusion

      Although awareness of health literacy has grown, voice-related PROMs continue to be developed without full consideration of their reading grade level. Researchers should consider revising or developing PROMs with consideration to reading grade level as well as other features to enhance readability.

      Key Words

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