Enhancing comprehension through suitability: An analysis of the US Medicare plan handbook

Abstract

For groups like the elderly who are at risk for low levels of health literacy, documents must be easily comprehensible, particularly as the information becomes increasingly complex. The current research focused on a multilevel examination of a procedural excerpt of a handbook on Medicare, the US government program providing financial assistance to senior citizens for healthcare. Complementing assessments of readability, syntax, and verb mood were content analysis and the validated SAM (suitability of materials) instrument. The research focused on techniques used within this document excerpt (excluding hyperlinks), along with suggested actions for improvement. The excerpt targeted an audience with average to low levels of literacy in terms of shorter words and paragraphs; proportions of complex sentences, conditional mood, and the subordinating conjunction ‘if’ signal potential difficulty in comprehension. Results from the SAM analysis identified specific improvements within the broad categories of organization, visualization, and simplification. Tools like the SAM instrument, in conjunction with related techniques, can assist in the design and revision of healthcare documents suitable to the target audience intended to benefit.

Keywords:

• Comprehension
• Content analysis
• Health literacy
• Health Insurance
• Health
• Medicare
• Readability
• Suitability of materials

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Robert J Bonk

Robert J. Bonk, associate professor of professional writing at Widener University in Chester, PA, USA, has an eclectic background that melds writing and the humanities with life sciences, particularly healthcare. His research interests focus on the pedagogy of professional writing, with a special focus on writing about health and medicine. Prof. Bonk additionally investigates the interplay of medicine with the humanities. In 2009, he was named a Fellow of AMWA (American Medical Writers Association), for whom he has served as chapter president, committee chair, member of the executive board, and administrator of the 2008 annual conference. Widener University awarded him with the Clarence R. Moll Professor of the Year Award in 2007. Prof. Bonk's first book, Writing for Today's Healthcare Audiences: A Primer on Research, Techniques, and Information, was chosen in 1999 as one of the 250 best books in the health sciences.