Readability of online educational materials for brainstem implants: An assessment

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to assess the readability of online patient education materials related to brainstem implants and to determine how comprehensible these materials are for patients and their families. Methods: Using Google Search with the term “auditory brainstem implant”, the first 50 websites were identified and categorized into two: Hospital and General Information Websites. Non-educational texts were removed from each site, and readability was assessed using six established readability tests. The readability scores for the texts were automatically calculated using a dedicated online tool. Results: Overall, all websites were found to have a high level of readability, surpassing the recommended 6th-grade reading level suggested by the American Medical Association. No significant difference was found between the readability scores of hospitals and general information websites. Conclusions: The online patient education materials concerning brainstem implants typically exceed the recommended reading levels, which may hinder patients and their families from fully understanding these materials. There’s a need for health professionals and institutions to strike a balance between scientific accuracy and readability to cater to a broader audience and make their materials more accessible.