Reading Grade Level of Plan B Instructions and Patient Information Materials on Emergency Contraception

Abstract

Background: Plan B recently became a schedule III product in Canada. Patients can now access Plan B without a pharmacist consult and may rely only on the packaging information provided to learn about the medication. It is recommended that health information materials directed at patients be written at or below a grade 8 level. We assessed the reading grade level of the Plan B packaging information and of patient information materials on Plan B and emergency contraception. Methods: Plan B packaging information was obtained from the manufacturer, and a convenience sample of 10 patient information materials on Plan B and emergency contraception were collected from pharmacies and clinics in Edmonton, Alberta, and from Canadian websites. The Fry graph and SMOG formula were used to measure readability of the materials. Results: The Plan B packaging information had a mean reading grade level of 12.8. The mean reading grade level of patient information materials was 12.9 for print materials and 13.4 for online materials. Conclusions: Plan B packaging information and patient information materials relating to Plan B and emergency contraception are written at reading grade levels beyond the recommendations for patient health literature.