Literacy in patients with a chronic disease: systemic lupus erythematosus and the reading level of patient education materials.

Abstract

Reading skills below high school level existed for 48% of patients surveyed, yet only 11% of SLE patient education materials were written below a 9th grade level. Current SLE patient education materials are written on too high a level for many patients. Identifying patients with low literacy may help provide more appropriate patient education and better medical care.