Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41331651›Full record

ArticleAddiction science & clinical practice2025

A comprehensive analysis of alcohol and other drug educational resources available in New South Wales, Australia for content, suitability and readability.

Aleena Varghese, Rebecca Amanda, Julie Ayre, Kaniz Fatema, Andrew Miles, Gilbert Whitton, Mythily Subramaniam, Amit Arora

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Article in Addiction science & clinical practice, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Aleena VargheseDiscipline of Public Health, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.
Rebecca AmandaDiscipline of Public Health, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.
Julie AyreSydney Health Literacy Lab, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Kaniz FatemaDiscipline of Public Health, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.
Andrew MilesDrug Health Services, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Cabramatta, NSW, Australia.
Gilbert WhittonDrug Health Services, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Cabramatta, NSW, Australia.
Mythily SubramaniamSaw Swee Hock School of Public Health, Institute of Mental Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Amit AroraDiscipline of Public Health, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown Campus, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia. a.arora@westernsydney.edu.au.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe utilisation of online evidence-based written educational resources is crucial in addressing problematic alcohol and other drugs (AOD) use through prevention, treatment, and intervention strategies. However, low health literacy among one in five Australian adults raises concerns regarding the effective understanding of health information. This study aims to evaluate the content, suitability, and readability of AOD resources in New South Wales (Australia), recognising the importance of accessible and informative resources in supporting AOD demand reduction strategies.

methodsIn this research, a comprehensive desktop search was conducted to analyse one to two-page AOD resources readily accessible through the internet in New South Wales, published by government and not-for-profit organisations. The content was thoroughly analysed for its coverage of key AOD topics. The Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM) instrument evaluated visual and written elements, examining aspects like layout, typography, and illustrations. Readability was assessed using Flesch -Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), Gunning Fog Index (FOG), Simplified Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), and Flesch Reading Ease tools. Descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, and standard deviation were calculated.

resultsThe study analysed 88 AOD resources. Most resources had a target audience, but only three resources involved consumers in the development process. The content analysis showed 66% focused on drug-related topics, 20% on alcohol-related topics, and 14% covered both. Topics such as alcohol use during pregnancy and breastfeeding were well addressed in alcohol resources. Additionally, 90% of the resources had headings and subheadings. However, only 28% scored 'superior' for layout, and none achieved 'superior' ratings for typography. Furthermore, 74% did not use illustrations to highlight key messages. Most resources used an active voice and conversational style, but complex sentences were common. The average reading grade level of the resources was 9 ± 2.6 with FOG and Flesch's reading ease indicating 10th-grade difficulty, while FKGL and SMOG suggested a 7th-grade level.

conclusionsThe evidence strongly suggests the need for the development of AOD resources that are accessible to individuals with low literacy levels without sacrificing content coverage. A key recommendation is to involve consumers in both developing and reviewing these resources.

Indexed as

ComprehensionHealth EducationHealth LiteracySubstance-Related DisordersHumansInternetNew South WalesAlcohol and other drugsContent analysisHealth literacyPatient educationReadability

Identifiers

PMID41331651
PMCPMC12670872

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.