Parents Reading Comprehension of Their Child's Post-Operative Medicine Fact Sheets

It is important for the child's welfare and comfort that the legal guardian can read and comprehend their child's pain medication information. Failure to understand the full implications of the medication may jeopardize the child's comfort level or welfare. Readability of printed education materials is a key to comprehension and supplements what healthcare providers verbally tell the parents/legal guardians. Several studies have demonstrated the benefits of using illustrations to convey intended messages. Simple line drawings appear to do well with those who have low-literacy skills.

The following hypothesis will be tested:

• There is no difference in level of comprehension of medication administration by the legal guardians who receive standard fact sheets about medication, those who receive easy-to-read fact sheets, and those who receive easy-to-read fact sheets accompanied by illustrations.
• There is no difference in level of comprehension of pain assessment by the legal guardians who receive standard fact sheets about assessing pain, those who receive easy-to-read fact sheets, and those who receive easy-to-read facts sheets accompanied by illustrations.
• There is no relationship between legal guardians' satisfaction with medication education and whether they receive standard fact sheets, easy-to-read fact sheets, or those who receive easy-to read fact sheets accompanied by illustrations.

Inclusion criteria

• be 18 years of age or older or an emancipated minor
• ability to see, speak, and hear English
• have a child who will be undergoing surgery
• signed surgical consent form
• have a child staying on hospital pediatric surgical unit after surgery until discharge
• have a child admitted for at least one day but not more than 7 days.