Readability Standards for Informed-Consent Forms as Compared with Actual Readability | Synapse
February 19, 2003Open Access
Readability Standards for Informed-Consent Forms as Compared with Actual Readability
Key Points
This research aims to compare the readability of informed-consent forms provided by IRBs with established readability standards.
Assessment of informed-consent forms from multiple IRBs against readability metrics.
Analysis of federal oversight impact on readability levels.
Informed-consent forms frequently did not meet readability standards set by IRBs.
Better readability is associated with federal oversight in consent forms.
Abstract
IRBs commonly provide text for informed-consent forms that falls short of their own readability standards. Federal oversight is associated with better readability.