A survey of the quality of information leaflets on hayfever available from general practices and community pharmacies

Abstract

A large number of leaflets are published for people with hayfever, but they are of variable quality and not accessible to all patients because of limited distribution or high readability scores. If all patients are to benefit from written information the authors and publishers of leaflets need to follow published recommendations, especially with respect to content and readability. In the absence of a national public health information strategy or a body that systematically vets patient information materials, clinicians must pay attention to the quality of information provided for or obtained elsewhere by their patients.