Assessing knowledge translation following a pre-cancer diagnosis: a multinational evaluation of online resources targeting patients with cervical dysplasia.

BACKGROUND

Distressful clinician-to-patient dialogue such as a pre-cancer diagnosis of cervical dysplasia may interfere with information retention. Patient education material provided as an online resource offers a suitable option to review relevant health information outside the clinic. The aim of this study was to evaluate online resources (ORs) affiliated with healthcare institutions across Australia and the United Kingdom (UK) on their effectiveness to translate accessible and current knowledge to patients referred for loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) treatment.

METHODS

A comprehensive directory of ORs related to LEEP was compiled from public hospital websites across Australia and the UK. Quantitative and qualitative methods were applied to evaluate resource reading-level (measured using three validated readability indices); actionability and understandability (measured using the Patient Education Material Assessment Tool [PEMAT]); and content (described using content analysis to assess disclosure practices associated with LEEP-related complications).

RESULTS

All ORs (n = 39) exceeded the recommended reading level (Australia: x̄ = 10.07, σ = 1.01; UK: x̄ = 10.17, σ = 0.96). PEMAT results indicated higher percentages of ORs scored as understandable (Australia: 50.0%; UK: 69.7%) versus actionable (Australia: 33.3%; UK: 6.1%). Content analysis revealed widespread discordance in the disclosure of longer-term LEEP complications associated with pregnancy, fertility, and sexual function in both countries.

CONCLUSIONS

Disclosures with significant health and wellness implications should be made with clear reference to peer reviewed science. Wider application of purpose-designed health literacy tools could improve measures of readability, actionability and understandability. International collaborations may provide opportunities to develop more comprehensive and patient-centred education materials to improve provider-to-patient knowledge translation.