외국인 암 환자를 위한 국내 방사선치료 영문 텍스트 가독성 분석

Analysis of Readability of Text in English for Radiation Therapy for Foreigner Patient with Cancer in South Korea

This study compared and analyzed with the United States(USA) to evaluated the level of readability of radiotherapy information (English text) provide to foreign patients with cancer by medical institutions in South Korea (KOR). A total of 20 the KOR and USA medical hospitals in 10 each provide information for radiation therapy technology were selected. The readability was comparatively analyzed a total of three aspects (lexical, syntactic, cohesion and readability) by using a Coh-Metrix on-line web program. In readability respect, the mean of the Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) was lower in the KOR (8.3) than in the USA (23.2), Flesch-Kincaid grade level (FKGL) was higher in the KOR than in the USA (14.2) indicating that KOR was less readable than the US (p<.05). In both KOR and USA, the reading level (literacy) of the English text for the radiation therapy was found to be higher than high school (FRE level 50 or lower). Therefore, text information in English for the radiation therapy to foreign patients with cancer should be lowered to elementary school level and read to improve the quality of medical services.