Smog Formula for Community and Public Health Nurses

Failure to comply with simple instructions and guidelines in the home setting has become one of the most alarming concerns for public and community health nurses. Harry Mclaughlin established a formula commonly known as the SMOG formula back in 1969 (McLaughlin,2019) and later published it in a New Readability formula journal. The idea behind it was that the complexity of the text in the sector of public health is most influenced by the use of complex words with many syllables having difficult vocabulary. The concluding SMOG grade formula considered the following: the number of polysyllabic words, having three or syllables, and lastly, the number of sentences. This is a rough estimate of the proportion of complex words to the number of sentences.

In today’s world, Powell et al. (2020) elucidate that the famous SMOG formula is primarily used in measuring how complex medical tests are, and in current studies, it is portrayed with more accuracy as opposed to other methods being used. The kind of instructions I may give to a client when he or she is discharged from the emergency room or the hospital would follow the SMOG formula. For instance, when writing down instructions to clients with a low level of education, I would use simple words with fewer syllables. Similarly, I would use more complex sentences and words when giving instructions to an individual with a Ph.D. or a Master’s degree in a particular field.

Generally, I will put more effort into ensuring that the readability level rate of the instructions and guidelines responds to the level of education of this client. Lastly, I will write the instructions so that the readability will range between 7.00-8.00 to ensure full compliance with the SMOG formula as outlined by McLaughlin (2019). I will make sure that it is simple and easy for clients to follow the given instructions to the latter while at home. Consequently, it is highly suggested that the public and community health nurses use the SMOG formula to ensure full compliance with given instructions to clients while at home.

Another barrier to compliance that needs to be considered would be depression since when clients are so into depression, they forget to follow the given instructions or follow instructions wrongly, as outlined by Powell et al. (2020). This will eventually affect the client’s health because he or she has not done what is required by the set instruction, and the problem may take a more extended period to overcome if concerned individuals do not appropriately monitor the client. Patient prescriber relationship is another barrier to consider since the poor relationship with the physicians and inability to solve problems may lead to non-compliance.

Physical difficulties among clients can also lead to not complying with the instructions basically because if the client is not strong enough to do the required exercises, it will mean that the client’s recovery progress rate will not go as planned (McLaughlin, 2019). Another barrier that needs to be factored out is treatment. Treatment where a patient fails to comply due to the high frequency of dosing, increased number of prescribed medicines, tablet size, appearance, and medication taste. Social factors include individuals with language difficulties, widowed, single, low-income family ties, negative attitudes of people in the community, and lack of local help.

References

McLaughlin, G. (2019). THE SMOG READABILITY FORMULA, a Simple Measure of Gobbledygook. Readabilityformulas.com.

Powell, L. E., Andersen, E. S., & Pozez, A. L. (2020). Assessing Readability of Patient Education Materials on Breast Reconstruction by Major US Academic Institutions. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery–Global Open, 8(9S), 127-128.