Critique of Health Assessment Brochure
This letter is in regards to the brochure appearing on www.lung.org. We seek to determine whether the information printed therein is easily understandable to a large number of people who need it as a result of them having asthma or having relatives who may have the condition. We are going to use Established Readability Scales which indicate the level of complexity that a certain piece of literature has in order to understand the education level needed by a person to understand it. The readability scales do not normally indicate that the paper is directed towards a certain level but rather that the literature therein is complex to the level indicated. Asthma is a condition that affects millions of Americans; both young and old (Martinez, 2007). The condition makes a person’s breathing harder. This condition is not fatal and is easily manageable. Any literature dedicated to asthma is meant to convey this message and should therefore be targeted at a wide audience as the condition is not limited to any age group, race, gender or education level. In order for the condition to be understood and therefore easily managed, the information must be succinct and accurate.
In light of the above introduction, we subjected the health education material from the website on Asthma for public education, http://www.lung.org/lung-disease/asthma/, to a readability scale from The Readability Test Tool (Simpson, 2013). The results are illustrated in the table below.
Readability Indices
| Flesch Kincaid Reading Ease | 45.9 |
| Flesch Kincaid Grade Level | 8.2 |
| Gunning Fog Score | 5 |
| SMOG Index | 6.4 |
| Coleman Liau Index | 15.8 |
| Automated Readability Index | 6.7 |
Text Statistics
| No. of sentences | 68 |
| No. of words | 381 |
| No. of complex words | 79 |
| Percent of complex words | 20.73% |
| Average words per sentence | 5.60 |
| Average syllables per word | 1.83 |
A Flesch Kincaid Reading Ease indicator is used to illustrate the complexity of the brochure. A high score usually means that the material is easily readable. In most cases, a score of 60 to 80 usually indicates that the material can be understood by a person who is above 12 years old. In this case, a score of 45.9 indicates that a person slightly older than 12 years is required to fully understand the material in the brochure. The Flesch Kincaid Grade Level indicator on the other hand indicates the corresponding level of complexity according to the US schools grade level system. In this case, the text brochure can be understood by a person who is in the 8th grade in the US. This grade level is arrived at using the formula below:
0.39(total words/total sentences) + 11.8(total syllables/total words) – 15.59
The scores above rate the complexity of the information from the point of the reader rather than from the author. It is an average tool that indicates whether the material generated is available and viable to the targeted groups.
The brochure has its elements centered. This traditional design indicates orderliness and strength of character (Bond, 2012). It is outstanding and easily engages the reader. The colors used and the order of information indicates harmony as items seem to be carefully placed in areas where the gain maximum attention. At the very top of the page, there is a changing display window that uses different weights, sizes and types of arts with information regarding workshops, projects and other initiatives that further understanding of asthma. This use of contrast immediately grabs the attention of the reader and is informative. The brochure uses red (blue when highlighted) and black fonts alongside images corresponding to particular subtopics. This use of repetitive colors in the elements creates rhythm which enhances the flow. Furthermore, the design of the brochure is symmetrical. The images that the fonts correspond to are of similar size and shape in addition to being placed at similar locations. This symmetry enhances the dialogue between the reader and the information being portrayed (Bond, 2012).
In order to improve the brochure, we propose that since there are too many complex words that are lowering the level of readability, they should be revised in order to create new sentences with simpler words without losing the intended meaning. Furthermore, the structure of the sentences is also such that people in lower grade levels cannot understand. Simplifying the structure of the sentences is not an easy task as the English language does not adhere to strict guidelines. However, having shorter sentences could be a starting point towards simplifying sentence structure. The benefits of having a simplified paper that is understandable by a large number of the population (read high readability) and is important since it creates asthma awareness which in turn helps improve conditions necessary for management. People who may not be affected by the condition would take responsibility in order to make the lives of those with it more conducive by understanding what is required.
The appearance of the brochure is inviting and informational. A reader can capture most of the information after glancing at it. However, improvements can still be made. First, there should be a use of variety in shapes, sizes and location of most images. This will create asymmetry which arouses reader interest as one’s eyes will randomly move across or alongside the page capturing more information. This is also captivating for younger readers who will stay interested in the information displayed. Second, the brochure should have more action in it. Apart from the singular changing display, there should be others that will be in the window keeping the readers captivated. While the brochure is well balanced and readable to people above the 8th grade, there is need for its improvement in order for it to be helpful to people below that grade. The recommendations suggested herein will go a way in ensuring this is achieved.
References
Bond, B. (2012). Brochure Design Critique. Retrieved January 9, 2014 from http://prezi.com/xvcxyqany4aj/brochure-design-critique/
Martinez, F.D. (2007). Genes, environments, development and asthma: a reappraisal. European Respiratory Journal, 29(1), 179–84.
Simpson, D. (2013). The Readability Test Tool. Retrieved January 9, 2014 from http://read-able.com/check.php?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lung.org%2Flung-disease%2Fasthma%2F
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