Calderón José Luis, Zadshir Ashraf, Norris Keith
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California, USA.
MedGenMed. 2004 Nov 11;6(4):3.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is epidemic, and informing those at risk is a national health priority. However, the discrepancy between the readability of health information and the literacy skills of those it targets is a recognized barrier to communicating health information that may promote good health outcomes. Because the World Wide Web has become one of the most important sources of health information, we sought to assess the readability of commonly available CKD information.
Twelve highly cited English-language, kidney disease Web sites were identified with 4 popular search engines. Each Web site was reviewed for the availability of 6 domains of information germane to CKD and risk-factor information. We estimated readability scores with the Flesch-Kincaid and Flesch Reading Ease Index methods. The deviation of readability scores for CKD information from readability appropriate to average literacy skills and the limited literacy skills of vulnerable populations (low socioeconomic status, health disparities, and elderly) were calculated.
Eleven Web sites met the inclusion criteria. Six of 11 sites provided information on all 6 domains of CKD and risk-factor information. Mean readability scores for all 6 domains of CKD information exceeded national average literacy skills and far exceeded the fifth-grade-level readability desired for informing vulnerable populations. Information about CKD and diabetes consistently had higher readability scores.
Information on the World Wide Web about CKD and its risk factors may not be readable for comprehension by the general public, especially by underserved minority populations with limited literacy skills. Barriers to health communication may be important contributors to the rising CKD epidemic and disparities in CKD health status experienced by minority populations.
慢性肾脏病（CKD）呈流行态势，让高危人群了解相关信息是一项国家卫生重点工作。然而，健康信息的可读性与目标人群的读写能力之间存在差异，这是传播可能促进良好健康结果的健康信息的一个公认障碍。由于万维网已成为健康信息的最重要来源之一，我们试图评估常见的CKD信息的可读性。
通过4个流行的搜索引擎识别出12个被高度引用的英文肾脏病网站。对每个网站进行审查，看是否具备与CKD相关的6个信息领域以及危险因素信息。我们使用弗莱什 - 金凯德和弗莱什阅读简易度指数方法估计可读性得分。计算CKD信息的可读性得分与适合平均读写能力以及弱势群体（社会经济地位低、健康差距大及老年人）有限读写能力的可读性之间的偏差。
11个网站符合纳入标准。11个网站中有6个提供了关于CKD所有6个领域以及危险因素的信息。CKD信息所有6个领域的平均可读性得分超过了国家平均读写能力，并且远远超过了向弱势群体提供信息所需的五年级阅读水平。关于CKD和糖尿病的信息始终具有较高的可读性得分。
万维网上关于CKD及其危险因素的信息可能普通公众难以理解，尤其是对于读写能力有限的未得到充分服务的少数族裔人群。健康传播的障碍可能是导致CKD流行率上升以及少数族裔人群CKD健康状况差异的重要因素。
