BACKGROUND: Published guidelines recommend written health information be written at or below the sixth-grade level. We evaluate the readability of online materials related to thyroid surgery. METHODS: Thyroid surgery materials were evaluated using Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES), Flesch Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), Gunning Frequency of Gobbledygook (GFOG), and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG). RESULTS: Thirty-one documents were evaluated. FRES scores ranged from 29.3 to 67.8 (possible range = 0 to 100), and averaged 50.5. FKGL ranged from 6.9 to 14.9 (possible range = 3 to 12), and averaged 10.4. SMOG scores ranged from 11.8 to 14.5 (possible range = 3 to 19), and averaged 13.0. GFOG scores ranged from 10.6 to 18.0 (possible range = 3 to 19), and averaged 13.5. CONCLUSIONS: Readability scores for online thyroid surgery materials are higher (i.e., more difficult) than the recommended levels. However, readability is only one aspect of comprehension. Written information should be designed with that fact in mind.
BACKGROUND: Published guidelines recommend written health information be written at or below the sixth-grade level. We evaluate the readability of online materials related to thyroid surgery. METHODS: Thyroid surgery materials were evaluated using Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES), Flesch Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), Gunning Frequency of Gobbledygook (GFOG), and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG). RESULTS: Thirty-one documents were evaluated. FRES scores ranged from 29.3 to 67.8 (possible range = 0 to 100), and averaged 50.5. FKGL ranged from 6.9 to 14.9 (possible range = 3 to 12), and averaged 10.4. SMOG scores ranged from 11.8 to 14.5 (possible range = 3 to 19), and averaged 13.0. GFOG scores ranged from 10.6 to 18.0 (possible range = 3 to 19), and averaged 13.5. CONCLUSIONS: Readability scores for online thyroid surgery materials are higher (i.e., more difficult) than the recommended levels. However, readability is only one aspect of comprehension. Written information should be designed with that fact in mind.
Authors: Henry T Stelfox; Jeanna Parsons Leigh; Chloe de Grood; Emma E Sypes; Daniel J Niven; Fiona Clement; Emily A FitzGerald; Shelly Kupsch; Shelly King-Hunter Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2022-04-07 Impact factor: 2.655
Authors: Matthew R Edmunds; Alastair K Denniston; Kristien Boelaert; Jayne A Franklyn; Omar M Durrani Journal: Thyroid Date: 2013-10-29 Impact factor: 6.568
Authors: Chang Hwan Ryu; Seung Jin Lee; Jae-Gu Cho; Ik Joon Choi; Yoon Seok Choi; Yong Tae Hong; Soo Yeon Jung; Ji Won Kim; Doh Young Lee; Dong Kun Lee; GIljoon Lee; Sang Joon Lee; Young Chan Lee; Yong Sang Lee; Inn Chul Nam; Ki Nam Park; Young Min Park; Eui-Suk Sung; Hee Young Son; In Hyo Seo; Byung-Joo Lee; Jae-Yol Lim Journal: Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2021-06-01 Impact factor: 3.372