Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

May 12, 2020

Public Health Communication in Time of Crisis: Readability of On-Line COVID-19 Information

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  • The mean readability score for the first 100 English language websites found using the search term “coronavirus” estimated that readability levels for nearly all websites exceeded the 10th grade by at least four of five tests, with one test finding a mean readability level of grade 18 (graduate school level) across the sampled websites. The majority of COVID-19 messages are thus difficult for the average American to read 
  •  Guidelines on behavior that are communicated to the public should be readable at an “easy” level. 

Basch et al. (May 11, 2020). Public Health Communication in Time of Crisis: Readability of On-Line COVID-19 Information. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness. https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2020.151