Readability and Variability Among Online Sources for Patella Dislocation: What Patients are Reading

Abstract

Patients frequently use the internet to obtain medical information, and the information may be misleading. Patella dislocation is a common orthopaedic injury for which patients may use the internet as a resource to better understand treatment options and recovery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate online information about patella instability in order to assess what patients are reading. A search was performed using Google, Yahoo, and Bing search engines and four similar terms related to patella dislocation (patella instability, kneecap dislocation, dislocated kneecap, and patella dislocation). A list of 37 websites were compiled. The readability of websites was analyzed using Flesch-Reading tools and content was assessed using a content scoring guide that evaluates whether the websites mentioned certain topics relevant to patella dislocation. The website content score was calculated and averaged from the evaluation of two scorers. 17 of 37 (46%) websites disclosed the author credentials, and 13 of 37 (35%) websites were authored by physicians with a M.D. degree. The mean Flesh-Kincaid Grade for all websites was 10.8 ± 3.5 and the mean Flesch Reading Ease Score was 47.6 ± 18, indicating that on average, the websites were moderately difficult to read. Websites that were written by non-physicians had the highest website content score (65.0 out of 100 points), indicating that these websites discussed most topics related to patellar dislocation. Only 8 of 37 (22%) websites had a 3rd party HON seal, which validates the quality and reliability of information on the website. The information presented online about patellar dislocation is unreliable and written at a reading level that is difficult for the average patient to understand. Patients should be aware of the potential inaccuracy of information presented online and orthopaedic surgeons should consider recommending reliable websites to patients.