Quality assessment of cancer patient education materials: the current state of systemic therapy patient education in fou
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Quality assessment of cancer patient education materials: the current state of systemic therapy patient education in fourteen cancer centres across Ontario, Canada J. K. Papadakos 1,2,3 & E. Giannopoulos 2 & S. McBain 1 & L. Forbes 4 & P. Jain 1 & D. Samoil 2 & J. Wang 1 & V. Zwicker 1 & C. Fox 2 & L. Moody 1 & R. McLeod 5 Received: 13 July 2020 / Accepted: 26 October 2020 # Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Purpose Most patients diagnosed with cancer are administered systemic therapy and these patients are counselled and given printed education (PE) materials. High rates of low health literacy highlight the need to evaluate the quality of these PE materials. Methods A current state assessment of the quality of PE materials was conducted in Ontario, Canada. Patient education leaders from 14 cancer centres submitted print materials on the topic of systemic cancer therapy to the assessment team. To report adherence to PE quality and health literacy best practices, the following validated measures were used: readability (FRY, SMOG and Flesch Reading Ease), understandability and actionability (Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT)). Materials at grade level 6 or lower and with PEMAT scores greater than 80% were considered to meet health literacy best practices. Results A total of 1146 materials were submitted; 366 met inclusion criteria and 83 were selected for assessment. Most materials scored below the 80% target for understandability (x̄ = 73%, 31–100%) and actionability (x̄ = 68%, 20–100%), and above the recommended grade 6 readability level (x̄ = grade 9) meaning that the majority did not meet quality standards or best practices. Conclusion Results suggest that there is significant opportunity to improve the quality of PE materials distributed by cancer centres. The quality of PE materials is a critical safety and equity consideration when these materials convey important safety and self-care directives. Keywords Neoplasms . Patient education . Systemic therapy . Health literacy . Plain language
Introduction E. Giannopoulos and S. McBain are co-second authors. * J. K. Papadakos [email protected] 1
Patient Education, Patient Experience, Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario), Toronto, Canada
2
Cancer Health Literacy Research Centre, Cancer Education Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, 585 University Avenue, ELLICSR PMB B-130, Toronto, ON M5G 2N2, Canada
3
Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
4
Systemic Treatment Program, Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario), Toronto, Canada
5
Clinical Programs & Quality Initiatives, Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario), Toronto, Canada
Nearly 1 in 2 Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime [1]. While the mortality rate for cancer in the Canadian population is on the decline, an estimated 87,700 new cases of cancer were diagnosed in Ontario in 2019 [1]. The majority of patients diagnosed with cancer will receive some
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