Readability of online patient educational materials for common orthopaedic paediatric conditions within Australasia.

BACKGROUND

The role of patient educational materials for paediatric patients is increasing. A reading grade level of eighth-grade (USA) or year nine (Australia and New Zealand) is recommended as acceptable. The aim of this paper was to assess the reading grade levels of paediatric online patient educational materials, within Australasia.

METHODS

The online Google® search engine was used with a variety of keyword combinations, filtered to the location of Australia and New Zealand. Suitable websites were explored for webpages related to slipped upper femoral epiphysis, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, talipes equinovarus and developmental dysplasia of the hip. Readability was assessed using the online readability software WEB FX®.

RESULTS

Seventy-six patient educational webpages were analysed: 66 from Australia and 10 from New Zealand. Only eight of the 76 webpages (10.5%) had reading grade levels below the recommended eighth-grade (US)/year nine (AUS/NZ) level. Webpages from private healthcare providers and pages related to septic arthritis had the significantly highest reading grades.

CONCLUSIONS

Australasian families have limited online patient educational materials available to them, which are mostly set at reading grade levels above recommended standards. Healthcare providers should be incentivized to improve the readability of their patient educational materials to reduce health disparities and improve health literacy moving forward.