An Evaluation of Radiation Oncology Patient Education Materials: Readability, Gaps, and Health Literacy Implications.

Abstract

This review presents a summary of radiation therapy patient education materials. The purpose is to evaluate the quality, readability, and relevance of print-format pamphlets used to support patients undergoing radiation therapy; one large, urban academic cancer center is discussed as a reference for key materials. A literature review identified patient information needs, an environmental scan compared the cancer centre's pamphlet collection with those of leading cancer centres, and assessments used the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) and the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level formula. The review revealed gaps in technical content, inconsistent formatting, and readability levels that exceed recommended standards. The review highlights opportunities to improve clarity, consistency, and accessibility by incorporating plain language, standardizing content, and integrating multimedia resources. These findings offer practical guidance for enhancing patient education and health literacy in oncology care and will directly inform ongoing quality improvement efforts, including a broader review of all patient education materials.