Abstract
BackgroundEstablished guidelines recommend that patient educational materials should be set at no higher than a sixth-grade reading level to be considered adequately comprehensible to the general public. Our study objective was to assess the readability of online patient resources related to sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) as part of treatment for melanoma.Materials and methodsThe top 50 results from a Google search (search terms: “sentinel lymph node biopsy melanoma”) were analyzed using seven established readability formulae in order to determine their level of adherence to current guidelines.ResultsWe found that the readability of available online patient resources is currently very poor, with only 12% of the websites meeting the sixth-grade reading level criteria according to at least one measure, and 0% meeting the criteria according to all seven assessment tools. Furthermore, half of search results were peer-reviewed academic journal articles not intended for the general public.Discussion and conclusionsOnline patient resources related to SLNB carried out as part of melanoma treatment have poor readability. Several simple measures may be taken in order to make these resources more accessible and comprehensible to a broader audience. These resources should undergo ongoing evaluation, with the ultimate goal being improved readability and patient education.
Highlights
In recent years, the Internet has become a ubiquitous source of information for patients who are seeking to learn more about their symptoms, conditions, upcoming procedures or any aspect of subjects relevant to their own, or to a friend or family member’s care [1,2]
We found that the readability of available online patient resources is currently very poor, with only 12% of the websites meeting the sixth-grade reading level criteria according to at least one measure, and 0% meeting the criteria according to all seven assessment tools
Readability is a key aspect of accessibility that is often ignored, and guidelines formulated by the American Medical Association (AMA) and the US Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS), make it clear that patient reading material should be set at no higher than a sixth-grade reading level in order to be considered accessible and comprehensible to the majority of the general public [4]
Summary
The Internet has become a ubiquitous source of information for patients who are seeking to learn more about their symptoms, conditions, upcoming procedures or any aspect of subjects relevant to their own, or to a friend or family member’s care [1,2]. An online consultation with “Doctor Google” is understandable due to the appeal of the accessible, and seemingly limitless, healthcare-related information the Internet provides. Readability is a key aspect of accessibility that is often ignored, and guidelines formulated by the American Medical Association (AMA) and the US Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS), make it clear that patient reading material should be set at no higher than a sixth-grade reading level in order to be considered accessible and comprehensible to the majority of the general public [4]. Established guidelines recommend that patient educational materials should be set at no higher than a sixthgrade reading level to be considered adequately comprehensible to the general public. Our study objective was to assess the readability of online patient resources related to sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) as part of treatment for melanoma
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