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. 2025 Dec 2;20(1):93.
doi: 10.1186/s13722-025-00615-5.

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

Aleena Varghese  1   2 , Rebecca Amanda  1   2 , Julie Ayre  3 , Kaniz Fatema  1   4 , Andrew Miles  4 , Gilbert Whitton  4 , Mythily Subramaniam  5 , Amit Arora  6   7   8   9   10
Affiliations

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

Aleena Varghese et al. Addict Sci Clin Pract. .

Abstract

Background: The 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.

Methods: In 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.

Results: The 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.

Conclusions: The 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.

Keywords: Alcohol and other drugs; Content analysis; Health literacy; Patient education; Readability.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Patient and public involvement: Patients and/or the public were not involved in the design, or conduct, or reporting, or dissemination plans of this research. Patient consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Illustrates the selection of Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) resources in this study
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Describes the reading grade levels of the various AOD resources included in this study
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Alcohol, tobacco & other drugs in Australia. Canberra, Australia: AIHW; 2023.
    1. United Nations Office On Drugs And Crime. World drug report 2019. Vienna, Austria: United Nations Publications Sales No. 2019. E.19.XI.8.
    1. World Health Organization. Alcohol key facts Geneva, Switzerland: WHO. 2024 [Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/alcohol]
    1. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Global Burden. 2023 [Available from: https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-topics/alcohol...]
    1. NSW Ministry of Health. Strategic prioritisation framework for alcohol and other drugs research and evaluation: 2020–2024. 2020 [Available from: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/aod/resources/Publications/aod-research-ev...]