Evaluation of the readability level of the package inserts of topical antifungal drugs.

Fungi can cause infections in a number of body parts, including the skin, nails, hair and vulva-vaginal tissues. Topical antifungal drugs are the ones most frequently used to treat these infections. The purpose of this study is to assess topical antifungal medicine package insert readability using the Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) readability formulas. The package inserts of 97 topical antifungal medications from the drugs.com website was examined for this investigation. The SMOG and FKGL formulae were used to assess readability. The analysis determined that the Flesch Reading Ease Score was 60.76 ± 6.08, and the total average Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level for the entire prospectus was 7.59 ± 0.91. 11.45 ± 1.09 was the mean SMOG score. The package inserts for the miconazole group showed somewhat lower FKGL and higher Flesch Reading Ease ratings. This suggests that this group is more readable than the others. The majority of the prospectuses could be read by students in the seventh grade. Additionally, variations across various drug formulations were discovered. The most readable forms were cream and gel. Topical antifungal medication leaflets have a generally moderate literacy level, suitable for students in the seventh grade. To improve patient comprehension, some sections-especially those on possible adverse effects-might need to be further clarified. Making package inserts more readable could help improve patient outcomes by encouraging adherence to treatment plans.