Florida State University College of Medicine.
University of South Florida College of Medicine, FL.
J Pediatr Orthop. 2023 Oct 1;43(9):549-554. doi: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000002490. Epub 2023 Aug 7.
As the rate of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears increases in children, the internet has become a major source of information and education. In the United States, the average adult reads at about an eighth grade level. The National Institutes of Health recommends that patient education materials do not exceed a sixth-grade reading level. Therefore, the most accessed resources on the internet should be created with this in mind. The purpose of this study is to assess the readability and quality of online patient resources for pediatric ACL tears.
Google was queried using the term "Pediatric ACL Tear" on May 26, 2022. The most popular sites were identified through page one of a Google search. All content was evaluated to assure information was directed toward patients. To determine reading difficulty, the most widely accepted readability tests: Flesch Reading Ease Index, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, and Gunning Fog Index were calculated through plain text in Microsoft Word and URL in online readability checker Readable.io.
The average grade level for all resources was above the recommended reading level based on both Microsoft Word and Readable.io calculations. Each source exceeded the NIH recommendation by 2.6 grade levels on average (Mean grade level readability was 8.6 ± 1.9). Four of the 6 sites were above the average US reading level, exceeding the eighth grade by an average of 1.5 grade levels. All 6 sites analyzed had a mean DISCERN score of 61.9, meeting the 'good quality' criteria.
The most readily available online materials for Pediatric ACL tears were of 'good quality' but above both the NIH-recommended readability level and the average US adult reading level. With the increasing need for treatment of ACL tears in pediatric and adolescent patients and greater internet accessibility in these populations, it is important to consider the readability of these resources in support of increased health literacy and improved outcomes.
It is important for physicians treating young patients with ACL tears to be aware of all sources of information and support, including content shared online as these platforms are increasingly utilized, especially by patients and families of lower socioeconomic status.
随着儿童前交叉韧带 (ACL) 撕裂的发生率增加，互联网已成为主要的信息和教育来源。在美国，成年人的平均阅读水平约为八年级。美国国立卫生研究院 (NIH) 建议，患者教育材料的阅读水平不应超过六年级。因此，应牢记这一点，创建互联网上最受欢迎的资源。本研究的目的是评估儿童 ACL 撕裂的在线患者资源的可读性和质量。
于 2022 年 5 月 26 日在 Google 上使用术语“儿科 ACL 撕裂”进行搜索。通过 Google 搜索的第一页确定最受欢迎的网站。评估所有内容以确保信息面向患者。为了确定阅读难度，使用最广泛接受的可读性测试：Flesch 阅读舒适度指数、Flesch-Kincaid 年级水平和 Gunning Fog 指数，通过 Microsoft Word 中的纯文本和在线可读性检查器 Readable.io 中的 URL 进行计算。
根据 Microsoft Word 和 Readable.io 的计算，所有资源的平均年级水平均高于推荐的阅读水平。每个来源的平均 NIH 推荐水平都高出 2.6 个年级（平均阅读水平为 8.6 ± 1.9）。6 个来源中有 4 个高于美国平均阅读水平，平均高出 1.5 个年级。所有 6 个分析的网站的平均 DISCERN 评分为 61.9，符合“质量好”的标准。
儿科 ACL 撕裂最容易获得的在线材料质量好，但高于 NIH 推荐的可读性水平和美国成年人的平均阅读水平。随着儿科和青少年 ACL 撕裂治疗需求的增加以及这些人群对互联网的可及性增加，考虑这些资源的可读性以支持提高健康素养和改善结果非常重要。
治疗 ACL 撕裂的年轻患者的医生应了解所有信息和支持来源，包括在线共享的内容，因为这些平台越来越被使用，尤其是社会经济地位较低的患者及其家属。
