Readability of CAMHS clinical letters

BACKGROUND: Sending clinical letters to patients is common practice in CAMHS. Ease of reading and understanding is important for patients. Readability formulae are feasible and quick ways to assess this. METHOD: Clinical letters sent to patients were analysed for readability and whether they reached a preset threshold. Factors influencing readability were investigated. RESULTS: Most letters were less easily readable than is appropriate. Letters written directly to patients were more readable than copied letters. CONCLUSIONS: Patients sometimes receive letters that are unlikely to be easily readable. Word processing packages contain readability formulae that could be used to check and improve readability of letters.