Current Research in Diabetes & Obesity Journal Research article Volume 1 Issue 2 - October 2016 Curre Res Diabetes & Obes J Copyright © All rights are reserved by Javedh Shareef Development, Quality and Readability Assessment of Patient Information Leaflet for Diabetes Mellitus Javedh Shareef 1 *, Jennifer Fernandes 1 Laxminarayana Samaga 2 and Mahalingeshwara Bhat 2 1 Department of Pharmacy Practice, N G S M Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, India 2 Department of General Medicine, K S Hegde Medical Academy & Hospital, India Submission: October 10, 2016; Published: October 24, 2016 *Corresponding author: Javedh Shareef, Assistant professor, Department of Pharmacy practice, N G S M Institute of Pharmaceutical sciences, Paneer, Mangalore, Karnataka, India. Abstract Introduction: Patient health education through information leaflets plays a very important role in the understanding about diseases, drugs and lifestyle modifications in diabetes mellitus. Aim: To develop and assess the quality and readability of patient information leaflet for diabetes mellitus. Methods: patient information leaflet for diabetes mellitus was developed by referring to various online resources such as ‘Diabetes UK (NHS Lanarkshire)’ and other medical websites. The content of the developed leaflet was validated by the physicians and specialist doctors. Feedback from the experts was used to design and modify the leaflet. Readability was checked online by using the website ‘www.readability- score.com’ and calculated Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) and Flesch-Kincaid grade level (FK-GL). Baker Able Leaflet Design (BALD) Criterion and Ensuring Quality Information for Patients (EQIP) questionnaire was applied to assess layout and design characteristics and information quality in the developed leaflets. Results: Readability scores by using FRE and grade level by FK-GL was found to be 63.9% and 7.8 which shows that the leaflet was found to be ‘standard’ and easily understood by 13- to 15-year-old students. The BALD score was 27 rated as ‘above standard’ and the EQIP score of the leaflet was found to be 70%. Conclusion: The information leaflet developed in the present study had good quality and standard readability score and layout design. The FRE scores and FK-GL grade level shows that the leaflet was easily understood by 8th and 9th grade school levels. Keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Patient information leaflet; Readability; Layout and design Abbreviations: FRE: Flesch Reading Ease; FK-GL: Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level; BALD: Baker Able Leaflet Design; EQIP: Ensuring Quality Information for Patients; DCCT: Diabetes Control and Complication Trial; UKPDS: United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study; SMOG: Simplified Measure of Gobbledygoop Introduction Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease leading to short and long –term complications which will affect patients physical, psychological and social well being. Uncontrolled blood glucose leads to damage of end organs such as kidney, heart, brain and eyes leading to frequent hospitalization, morbidity and mortality. Is also increases the healthcare expenditure and negatively affect the patient’s quality of life [1,2]. The incidence, prevalence and hospital admissions due to diabetes mellitus are on the rise worldwide with significant impact on the individual and the society. Several studies have reported the positive impact of clinical pharmacist delivered education and counselling including diet and lifestyle modifications on clinical outcomes and improved quality of life in patients with diabetes mellitus. Diabetes control and complication trial (DCCT) and United Kingdom prospective diabetes study (UKPDS) studies have clearly showed that optimal glycaemic control can delay the onset and progression of diabetes mellitus and associated complication [3]. Patient health education plays a very important role in the successful management of chronic diseases. It is defined as ‘the Curr Res Diabetes Obes J 1(2): CRDOJ.MS.ID.555560 (2016) 001