Meade Matthew, Miller Mark, Lencer Adam, Nanavati Ruchir, DiCiurcio William, Pignataro John, Thatcher Micah, Carfagno Jack, Fischer Steven, Schroeder Gregory D, Kepler Christopher, Woods Barrett
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Jefferson Health, Philadelphia, USA.
Rothman Institute, Philadelphia, USA.
Eur Spine J. 2025 May 23. doi: 10.1007/s00586-025-08942-6.
Patients frequently utilize internet-based resources to seek information. Cervical disc replacement (CDR) is extensively marketed on the internet and patients may research their condition in preference to a fusion. Previous literature has recommended that the readability of patient education materials (PEM) should not exceed the 6th-grade(11-12 years old) United States reading level to optimize health literacy. This study aims to evaluate the readability of online patient education materials concerning cervical disc replacement.
A Google search query was performed on March 1st, 2025 using the term" Cervical Disc Replacement patient information." The first 25 websites meeting study inclusion criteria were analyzed for readability using Flesch-Kincaid, average reading level consensus, Gunning Fog, Coleman-Liau, SMOG, and Linsear Write indices. Descriptive statistics were reported.
The mean of the average reading levels by Flesch-Kincaid was 11.5 (1.29). The mean Flesch Kincaid Reading Ease score was 48.8 (8.12). The mean Gunning Fog Score was 12.9 (1.39), Flesch Kincaid grade level 10.6 (1.69), Coleman Liau 12.4 (1.48), SMOG 10.5 (1.3), Automated Readability Index 11.5 (2.12), Linear Write 69.4 (6.62). Zero PEMs were at or below the recommended sixth grade(11-12 years old) United States reading level. Four of the PEMs were considered general health information(GHI), twenty-one were considered clinical practice(CP). No differences were found between CP and GHI websites (P > 0.05).
Creating appropriate patient education materials is integral to achieving optimal health literacy. The current readability of the most accessible PEMs related to CDR is inadequate. As it stands, many patients may not appropriately comprehend the description of their anticipated surgery.
患者经常利用基于互联网的资源来寻求信息。颈椎间盘置换术（CDR）在互联网上广泛宣传，患者可能会研究自己的病情，而不是选择融合手术。先前的文献建议，患者教育材料（PEM）的可读性不应超过美国六年级（11 - 12岁）的阅读水平，以优化健康素养。本研究旨在评估有关颈椎间盘置换术的在线患者教育材料的可读性。
于2025年3月1日使用“颈椎间盘置换患者信息”一词在谷歌上进行搜索查询。使用弗莱施 - 金凯德、平均阅读水平共识、冈宁雾度、科尔曼 - 廖、烟雾和林西尔写作指数对符合研究纳入标准的前25个网站的可读性进行分析。报告描述性统计数据。
弗莱施 - 金凯德平均阅读水平的均值为11.5（标准差1.29）。弗莱施·金凯德阅读易度得分的均值为48.8（标准差8.12）。冈宁雾度得分的均值为12.9（标准差1.39），弗莱施·金凯德年级水平为10.6（标准差1.69），科尔曼 - 廖为12.4（标准差1.48），烟雾为10.5（标准差1.3），自动可读性指数为11.5（标准差2.12），线性写作得分为69.4（标准差6.62）。没有PEM达到或低于建议的美国六年级（11 - 12岁）阅读水平。其中4份PEM被视为一般健康信息（GHI），21份被视为临床实践（CP）。CP和GHI网站之间未发现差异（P>0.05）。
创建合适的患者教育材料对于实现最佳健康素养至关重要。目前与CDR相关的最易获取的PEM的可读性不足。就目前情况而言，许多患者可能无法正确理解对其预期手术的描述。
