David R Hansberry1, Michael D'Angelo2, Michael D White2, Arpan V Prabhu3, Mougnyan Cox4, Nitin Agarwal2, Sandeep Deshmukh4. 1. Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, 132 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA. david.hansberry@jefferson.edu. 2. Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA. 3. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Hillman Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA. 4. Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, 132 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The vast amount of information found on the internet, combined with its accessibility, makes it a widely utilized resource for Americans to find information pertaining to medical information. The field of radiology is no exception. In this paper, we assess the readability level of websites pertaining specifically to emergency radiology. METHODS: Using Google, 23 terms were searched, and the top 10 results were recorded. Each link was evaluated for its readability level using a set of ten reputable readability scales. The search terms included the following: abdominal ultrasound, abdominal aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection, appendicitis, cord compression, CT abdomen, cholecystitis, CT chest, diverticulitis, ectopic pregnancy, epidural hematoma, dural venous thrombosis, head CT, MRI brain, MR angiography, MRI spine, ovarian torsion, pancreatitis, pelvic ultrasound, pneumoperitoneum, pulmonary embolism, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and subdural hematoma. Any content that was not written for patients was excluded. RESULTS: The 230 articles that were assessed were written, on average, at a 12.1 grade level. Only 2 of the 230 articles (1%) were written at the third to seventh grade recommended reading level set forth by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and American Medical Association (AMA). Fifty-two percent of the 230 articles were written so as to require a minimum of a high school education (at least a 12th grade level). Additionally, 17 of the 230 articles (7.3%) were written at a level that exceeded an undergraduate education (at least a 16th grade level). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of websites with emergency radiology-related patient education materials are not adhering to the NIH and AMA's recommended reading levels, and it is likely that the average reader is not benefiting fully from these information outlets. With the link between health literacy and poor health outcomes, it is important to address the online content in this area of radiology, allowing for patient to more fully benefit from their online searches.
PURPOSE: The vast amount of information found on the internet, combined with its accessibility, makes it a widely utilized resource for Americans to find information pertaining to medical information. The field of radiology is no exception. In this paper, we assess the readability level of websites pertaining specifically to emergency radiology. METHODS: Using Google, 23 terms were searched, and the top 10 results were recorded. Each link was evaluated for its readability level using a set of ten reputable readability scales. The search terms included the following: abdominal ultrasound, abdominal aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection, appendicitis, cord compression, CT abdomen, cholecystitis, CT chest, diverticulitis, ectopic pregnancy, epidural hematoma, dural venous thrombosis, head CT, MRI brain, MR angiography, MRI spine, ovarian torsion, pancreatitis, pelvic ultrasound, pneumoperitoneum, pulmonary embolism, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and subdural hematoma. Any content that was not written for patients was excluded. RESULTS: The 230 articles that were assessed were written, on average, at a 12.1 grade level. Only 2 of the 230 articles (1%) were written at the third to seventh grade recommended reading level set forth by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and American Medical Association (AMA). Fifty-two percent of the 230 articles were written so as to require a minimum of a high school education (at least a 12th grade level). Additionally, 17 of the 230 articles (7.3%) were written at a level that exceeded an undergraduate education (at least a 16th grade level). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of websites with emergency radiology-related patient education materials are not adhering to the NIH and AMA's recommended reading levels, and it is likely that the average reader is not benefiting fully from these information outlets. With the link between health literacy and poor health outcomes, it is important to address the online content in this area of radiology, allowing for patient to more fully benefit from their online searches.
Authors: Arpan V Prabhu; Christopher Kim; Tudor Crihalmeanu; David R Hansberry; Nitin Agarwal; Marie C DeFrances; Humberto E Trejo Bittar Journal: Hum Pathol Date: 2017-05-10 Impact factor: 3.466
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: Nitin Agarwal; David R Hansberry; Priyanka L Singh; Robert F Heary; Ira M Goldstein Journal: Spine (Phila Pa 1976) Date: 2014-05-15 Impact factor: 3.468
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