OBJECTIVE: To determine the readability and content of supplementary written drug information currently being given to @entity1 by rheumatologists in Australia. DESIGN AND @entity1 : Blinded standardised review by two independent reviewers of supplementary written drug information routinely provided to @entity1 by the 195 fully registered members of the Australian Rheumatology Association (ARA). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: @entity6556 and SMOG readability scores to estimate readability; critical appraisal of content according to predetermined criteria. RESULTS: 84 rheumatologists responded (43%), 45 of whom reported providing copies of written drug information to @entity1 . Overall, 91 different documents were reviewed. Drugs most commonly considered were @entity1499 (17), gold (16), @entity3378 (10), @entity2361 (10) and @entity617 (8). Level of agreement between reviewers for @entity6556 and SMOG scores was fair to good (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.61 and 0.51, respectively). Mean (95% CI) @entity6556 and SMOG scores were 12.6 (12.2-12.9) and 11 (10.7-11.2), respectively (implying that half of those in Year 12 [or aged 17 years] and Year 11 [or aged 16 years] according to the @entity6556 and SMOG mean scores, respectively, will comprehend half of the text or more). For the same medication, there was a wide variation in the information provided, including which side effects were discussed. While 98% included some information about side effects, fewer considered dose (74%), drug interactions if applicable (70%), purpose of drug (67%), how and when to take the drug (62%), expected time to improvement (54%), what to do in the event of side effects (44%), the expected duration of therapy (18%) and what to do if a dose was missed (5%). CONCLUSIONS: The reading level required to understand supplementary written drug information used by Australian rheumatologists is much higher than the average reading ability of the Australian population (estimated at Year 8 level). The content of this information varies widely and often omits important information.

Readability and content of supplementary written drug information for XXXX used by Australian rheumatologists.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'PARTICIPANTS'] @entity2361 :: ('MESH:D010396', 'Chemical') :: ['penicillamine'] @entity6556 :: ('161882', 'Gene') :: ['FOG'] @entity1499 :: ('MESH:D008727', 'Chemical') :: ['methotrexate'] @entity3378 :: ('MESH:D012460', 'Chemical') :: ['sulfasalazine'] @entity617 :: ('MESH:D011239', 'Chemical') :: ['prednisolone']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['patients']
