The Readability Study: A Randomised Trial of Health Information Written at Different Grade Reading Levels.

Background: Despite increasing attention on health literacy and the inclusion of grade reading level recommendations in guidelines, it remains unclear if lowering the grade reading level of written health information to specific target grades improves patient-related outcomes.

Objective: To assess whether grade reading level of written information affects knowledge, perceived reading ease, acceptability and trustworthiness of information and, to explore whether information written at a lower grade reading level reduces disparities in outcomes across health literacy levels.

Design: We conducted a 4-arm online randomized trial with a community sample of adults living in Australia from 31 July to 20 September 2023.

Are plain language summaries published in health journals written according to instructions and health literacy principles? A systematic environmental scan.

Background: Plain language summaries (PLSs) are easy-to-understand summaries of research articles that should follow principles of plain language and health literacy. PLS author instructions from health journals help guide authors on word count/PLS length, structure and the use of jargon. However, it is unclear whether published PLSs currently adhere to author instructions.

Online Plain Language Tool and Health Information Quality: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Complex and ineffective health communication is a critical source of health inequity and occurs despite repeated policy directives to provide health information that is easy to understand and applies health literacy principles.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Sydney Health Literacy Lab Health Literacy Editor, an easy-to-use online plain language tool that supports health information providers to apply health literacy guidelines to written health information.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This randomized clinical trial, conducted online in Australia from May 2023 to February 2024, included a convenience sample of health information providers with no previous experience using the Health Literacy Editor.

Health literacy and diabetes information preferences among Chinese immigrants: An Australian cross-sectional study.

Aim: Explore Australian-Chinese immigrants' health literacy and preferences and engagement with translated diabetes self-management patient education materials.

Design: The cross-sectional survey was conducted with Australian-Chinese immigrants at risk or with type 2 diabetes recruited via health services, and diabetes and community organisations.

Methods: The survey had three parts: (1) diabetes screening; (2) sociodemographic information, clinical characteristics and preferences for translated materials; and (3) Functional, Communicative and Critical Health Literacy (FCCHL) Scale.

Equity in Choosing Wisely and beyond: the effect of health literacy on healthcare decision-making and methods to support conversations about overuse.

Objective: To (a) examine whether the effect of the Choosing Wisely consumer questions on question-asking and shared decision-making (SDM) outcomes differs based on individuals' health literacy and (b) explore the relationship between health literacy, question-asking and other decision-making outcomes in the context of low value care.

Methods: Preplanned analysis of randomised trial data comparing: the Choosing Wisely questions, a SDM video, both interventions or control (no intervention). Randomisation was stratified by participant health literacy ('adequate' vs 'limited'), as assessed by the Newest Vital Sign.