Abstract
BackgroundThis study examined the content and general readability of pediatric oral health education materials for parents of young children.MethodsTwenty-seven pediatric oral health pamphlets or brochures from commercial, government, industry, and private nonprofit sources were analyzed for general readability ("usability") according to several parameters: readability, (Flesch-Kincaid grade level, Flesch Reading Ease, and SMOG grade level); thoroughness, (inclusion of topics important to young childrens' oral health); textual framework (frequency of complex phrases, use of pictures, diagrams, and bulleted text within materials); and terminology (frequency of difficult words and dental jargon).ResultsReadability of the written texts ranged from 2nd to 9th grade. The average Flesch-Kincaid grade level for government publications was equivalent to a grade 4 reading level (4.73, range, 2.4 – 6.6); F-K grade levels for commercial publications averaged 8.1 (range, 6.9 – 8.9); and industry published materials read at an average Flesch-Kincaid grade level of 7.4 (range, 4.7 – 9.3). SMOG readability analysis, based on a count of polysyllabic words, consistently rated materials 2 to 3 grade levels higher than did the Flesch-Kincaid analysis. Government sources were significantly lower compared to commercial and industry sources for Flesch-Kincaid grade level and SMOG readability analysis. Content analysis found materials from commercial and industry sources more complex than government-sponsored publications, whereas commercial sources were more thorough in coverage of pediatric oral health topics. Different materials frequently contained conflicting information.ConclusionPediatric oral health care materials are readily available, yet their quality and readability vary widely. In general, government publications are more readable than their commercial and industry counterparts. The criteria for usability and results of the analyses presented in this article can be used by consumers of dental educational materials to ensure that their choices are well-suited to their specific patient population.
Highlights
This study examined the content and general readability of pediatric oral health education materials for parents of young children
The results reported here provide dentists and other oral healthcare providers with an analysis of currently available materials
Pediatric Dental Educational Materials Twenty-seven pamphlets and brochures were examined in this study
Summary
This study examined the content and general readability of pediatric oral health education materials for parents of young children. In the U.S, dental care is the most prevalent unmet health need of children [1,2,3]. Despite a recent decline in childhood dental decay, it is on the rise among children ages 2 to 5 years [4]. Oral health disparities in the U.S continue to exist, especially for children from poor and culturally diverse backgrounds [1,5,6]. Among children ages 2 to 5 years, 75% of dental caries is found in 8% of the population [7]. As cited in the Maternal Child Health fact sheet, "Oral Health and Learning: when children's oral health suffers, so does their ability to learn", the effects of dental pain may be misunderstood by teachers as a behavioral problem [9]
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