David R Hansberry1, Tekchand Ramchand2, Shyam Patel3, Carl Kraus4, Jin Jung5, Nitin Agarwal6, Sharon F Gonzales7, Stephen R Baker8. 1. Department of Radiology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 150 Bergen Street, Room C320, Newark, NJ 07109, United States. Electronic address: hansbedr@njms.rutgers.edu. 2. Department of Radiology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 150 Bergen Street, Room C320, Newark, NJ 07109, United States. Electronic address: ramchate@njms.rutgers.edu. 3. Department of Radiology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 150 Bergen Street, Room C320, Newark, NJ 07109, United States. Electronic address: patel288@njms.rutgers.edu. 4. Department of Radiology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 150 Bergen Street, Room C320, Newark, NJ 07109, United States. Electronic address: krauscf@njms.rutgers.edu. 5. Department of Radiology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 150 Bergen Street, Room C320, Newark, NJ 07109, United States. Electronic address: jungjk@njms.rutgers.edu. 6. Department of Radiology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 150 Bergen Street, Room C320, Newark, NJ 07109, United States. Electronic address: nitin.agarwal@rutgers.edu. 7. Department of Radiology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 150 Bergen Street, Room C320, Newark, NJ 07109, United States. Electronic address: gonzalsh@njms.rutgers.edu. 8. Department of Radiology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, 150 Bergen Street, Room C320, Newark, NJ 07109, United States. Electronic address: bakersr@njms.rutgers.edu.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Patients frequently turn to the Internet when seeking answers to healthcare related inquiries including questions about the effects of radiation when undergoing radiologic studies. We investigate the readability of online patient education materials concerning radiation safety from multiple Internet resources. METHODS: Patient education material regarding radiation safety was downloaded from 8 different websites encompassing: (1) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (2) the Environmental Protection Agency, (3) the European Society of Radiology, (4) the Food and Drug Administration, (5) the Mayo Clinic, (6) MedlinePlus, (7) the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and (8) the Society of Pediatric Radiology. From these 8 resources, a total of 45 articles were analyzed for their level of readability using 10 different readability scales. RESULTS: The 45 articles had a level of readability ranging from 9.4 to the 17.2 grade level. Only 3/45 (6.7%) were written below the 10th grade level. No statistical difference was seen between the readability level of the 8 different websites. CONCLUSIONS: All 45 articles from all 8 websites failed to meet the recommendations set forth by the National Institutes of Health and American Medical Association that patient education resources be written between the 3rd and 7th grade level. Rewriting the patient education resources on radiation safety from each of these 8 websites would help many consumers of healthcare information adequately comprehend such material.
INTRODUCTION:Patients frequently turn to the Internet when seeking answers to healthcare related inquiries including questions about the effects of radiation when undergoing radiologic studies. We investigate the readability of online patient education materials concerning radiation safety from multiple Internet resources. METHODS:Patient education material regarding radiation safety was downloaded from 8 different websites encompassing: (1) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (2) the Environmental Protection Agency, (3) the European Society of Radiology, (4) the Food and Drug Administration, (5) the Mayo Clinic, (6) MedlinePlus, (7) the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and (8) the Society of Pediatric Radiology. From these 8 resources, a total of 45 articles were analyzed for their level of readability using 10 different readability scales. RESULTS: The 45 articles had a level of readability ranging from 9.4 to the 17.2 grade level. Only 3/45 (6.7%) were written below the 10th grade level. No statistical difference was seen between the readability level of the 8 different websites. CONCLUSIONS: All 45 articles from all 8 websites failed to meet the recommendations set forth by the National Institutes of Health and American Medical Association that patient education resources be written between the 3rd and 7th grade level. Rewriting the patient education resources on radiation safety from each of these 8 websites would help many consumers of healthcare information adequately comprehend such material.
Authors: David R Hansberry; Michael D'Angelo; Michael D White; Arpan V Prabhu; Mougnyan Cox; Nitin Agarwal; Sandeep Deshmukh Journal: Emerg Radiol Date: 2017-11-15
Authors: David R Hansberry; Nitin Agarwal; Elizabeth S John; Ann M John; Prateek Agarwal; James C Reynolds; Stephen R Baker Journal: Intern Emerg Med Date: 2017-01-30 Impact factor: 3.397
Authors: Elizabeth Sheena John; Ann M John; David R Hansberry; Prashant J Thomas; Prateek Agarwal; Christopher Deitch; Sita Chokhavatia Journal: Int J Colorectal Dis Date: 2016-09-20 Impact factor: 2.571
Authors: Varun Ayyaswami; Divya Padmanabhan; Manthan Patel; Arpan Vaikunth Prabhu; David R Hansberry; Nitin Agarwal; Jared W Magnani Journal: Health Lit Res Pract Date: 2019-04-10