Author/Authors :
Gulati, Rishabh Department of Medicine - Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, USA , Nawaz, Mohammad Department of Medicine - State University of New York - Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, USA , Lam, Linh Department of Biological Sciences - University of Calgary, Canada , Pyrsopoulos, Nikolaos T. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology - Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, USA
Abstract :
Background
The National Institutes of Health recommend a readability grade level of less than 7th grade for patient directed information. In this study, we use validated readability metrics to analyze patient information from prominent websites pertaining to ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
Methods
The terms “Crohn's Disease,” “Ulcerative Colitis,” and “Inflammatory Bowel Disease” were queried on Google and Bing. Websites containing patient education material were saved as a text file and then modified through expungement of medical terminology that was described within the text. Modified text was then divided into subsections that were analyzed using six validated readability scales.
Results
None of the websites analyzed in this study achieved an estimated reading grade level below the recommended 7th grade. The median readability grade level (after modification) was 11.5 grade levels for both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The treatment subsection required the highest level of education with a median readability grade of 12th grade (range of 6.9 to 17).
Conclusion
Readability of online patient education material from the analyzed popular websites far exceeds the recommended level of being less than 7th grade. Patient education resources should be revised to achieve wider health literacy.
