Readability of Patient Education Materials for Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

STUDY

DESIGN

Descriptive study.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Patients commonly use online patient education materials (PEM) to learn about anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the readability of patient education materials on anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.

METHODS

The Google search engine was queried using the term "Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion patient information." The first 25 websites meeting inclusion criteria for this term were evaluated. Readability scores were automatically calculated by transferring the texts to http://www.readabilityformulas.com . Descriptive statistics were calculated for each measure using SPSS version 28.0.0.

RESULTS

The mean average reading level was 9.2±2.4. The mean readability score out of 100 for the FK Reading Ease Score was 55.2±8.6. The remaining scores were: Gunning Fog, 12.7±2.2; FK Grade Level, 8.9±2.0; The Coleman Liau Index, 11.0±1.7; SMOG Index, 48.1±197.0; Automated Readability Index, 8.1±3.11; Linsear Write Formula, 9.8±2.1. Only 2 of the PEMs were written at or below a sixth grade level and only 7 were written at or below an eighth grade reading level.

CONCLUSION

Patient readability is an important component of patient care and the current readability level of ACDF PEMs is insufficient. At their current state, PEMs may not allow a significant portion of the population to understand the nature of their condition and procedure properly.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.