(0334) The Readability of Online Patient Education Materials on Turbinate Reduction Surgery

Introduction: Online patient education materials (OPEMs) have become a primary source of health information for many individuals seeking medical treatment, but these materials are not always easy to understand. This research paper will analyze the readability of OPEMs for Turbinate Reduction Surgery using widely accepted readability metrics and identify areas for improvement in the clarity and comprehensibility of these materials.

Methods: A google search for the term “turbinate reduction” was performed and the first 50 articles were screened against certain eligibility criteria. The included websites were analyzed for readability using the Automated Readability Index (ARI), Coleman-Liau Index (CLI), Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), Gunning Fog (GF), and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) and compared to a recommended sixth grade reading level using one-tailed T-tests. The means of each readability score were compared based on website type, such as hospital-based or clinic-based, through the use of ANOVA testing.

Results: The mean and SD for ARI was 10.82 (2.43), CLI was 13.03 (1.89), FKGL was 10.91 (2.25), GF was 13.61 (2.44), and SMOG was 13.47 (1.80). All readability scores demonstrated significantly higher scores than a sixth-grade reading level (p < 0.001). There was a statistical difference found between ARI and FKGL between website types, categorized as hospital/university, clinic and other.

Conclusions: The OPEMs on turbinate reduction surgery available for patients are currently above the recommended sixth-grade reading level. The difference between website types is likely due to the low ARI and FKGL of the websites determined to be outside the categories of hospital or clinic (other). Recognizing the level of difficulty in at home patient education is important to understand during conversations with patients. Efforts should be made to improve the readability of OPEMs to ensure patients are able to make informed decisions and have a more active role in their health care.