Abstract:
Introduction Osteoarthritis (OA) is an age-related degenerative joint disease. There is a 25% risk of symptomatic hip OA in patients who live up to 85 years of age. It can impair a person\'s daily activities and increase their reliance on healthcare services. It is primarily managed with education, weight loss and exercise, supplemented with pharmacological interventions. Poor health literacy is associated with negative treatment outcomes and patient dissatisfaction. A literature search found there are no previously published studies examining the readability of online information about hip OA. Objectives To assess the readability of healthcare websites regarding hip OA. Methods The terms \"hip pain\", \"hip osteoarthritis\", \"hip arthritis\", and \"hip OA\" were searched on Google and Bing. Of 240 websites initially considered, 74 unique websites underwent evaluation using the WebFX online readability software (WebFX®, Harrisburg, USA). Readability was determined using the Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES), Flesch-Kincaid Reading Grade Level (FKGL), Gunning Fog Index (GFI), Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), Coleman-Liau Index (CLI), and Automated Readability Index (ARI). In line with recommended guidelines and previous studies, FRES >65 or a grade level score of sixth grade and under was considered acceptable. Results The average FRES was 56.74±8.18 (range 29.5-79.4). Only nine (12.16%) websites had a FRES score >65. The average FKGL score was 7.62±1.69 (range 4.2-12.9). Only seven (9.46%) websites were written at or below a sixth-grade level according to the FKGL score. The average GFI score was 9.20±2.09 (range 5.6-16.5). Only one (1.35%) website was written at or below a sixth-grade level according to the GFI score. The average SMOG score was 7.29±1.41 (range 5.4-12.0). Only eight (10.81%) websites were written at or below a sixth-grade level according to the SMOG score. The average CLI score was 13.86±1.75 (range 9.6-19.7). All 36 websites were written above a sixth-grade level according to the CLI score. The average ARI score was 6.91±2.06 (range 3.1-14.0). Twenty-eight (37.84%) websites were written at or below a sixth-grade level according to the ARI score. One-sample t-tests showed that FRES (p<0.001, CI -10.2 to -6.37), FKGL (p<0.001, CI 1.23 to 2.01), GFI (p<0.001, CI 2.72 to 3.69), SMOG (p<0.001, CI 0.97 to 1.62), CLI (p<0.001, CI 7.46 to 8.27), and ARI (p<0.001, CI 0.43 to 1.39) scores were significantly different from the accepted standard. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) testing of FRES scores (p=0.009) and CLI scores (p=0.009) showed a significant difference between categories. Post hoc testing showed a significant difference between academic and non-profit categories for FRES scores (p=0.010, CI -15.17 to -1.47) and CLI scores (p=0.008, CI 0.35 to 3.29). Conclusions Most websites regarding hip OA are written above recommended reading levels, hence exceeding the comprehension levels of the average patient. Readability of these resources must be improved to improve patient access to online healthcare information which can lead to improved patient understanding of their own condition and treatment outcomes.
摘要:
背景技术骨关节炎(OA)是一种与年龄相关的退行性关节疾病。年龄在85岁以下的患者有25%的症状性髋关节OA风险。它会损害一个人的日常活动,增加他们对医疗保健服务的依赖。它主要是通过教育来管理的,减肥和锻炼,辅以药物干预。不良的健康素养与负面的治疗结果和患者的不满有关。文献检索发现,没有先前发表的研究检查有关髋关节OA的在线信息的可读性。目标评估有关髋关节OA的医疗保健网站的可读性。方法术语“髋部疼痛”,“髋部骨关节炎”,\"髋关节炎\",和“hipOA”在Google和Bing上搜索。在最初考虑的240个网站中,使用WebFX在线可读性软件(WebFX®,哈里斯堡,美国)。可读性是使用Flesch阅读轻松评分(FRES)确定的,Flesch-Kincaid阅读等级(FKGL),GunningFogIndex(GFI),Gobbledygook(SMOG)的简单测量,科尔曼-廖氏指数(CLI),和自动可读性指数(ARI)。根据建议的指导方针和以前的研究,FRES>65或六年级及以下的年级分数被认为是可以接受的。结果平均FRES为56.74±8.18(范围29.5-79.4)。只有9个(12.16%)网站的FRES评分>65。平均FKGL评分为7.62±1.69(范围4.2-12.9)。根据FKGL评分,只有七个(9.46%)网站的写作水平达到或低于六年级。平均GFI评分为9.20±2.09(范围5.6-16.5)。根据GFI分数,只有一个(1.35%)网站的写作水平达到或低于六年级。平均SMOG评分为7.29±1.41(范围5.4-12.0)。根据SMOG评分,只有八个(10.81%)网站的写作水平达到或低于六年级。平均CLI评分为13.86±1.75(范围9.6-19.7)。根据CLI评分,所有36个网站的写作水平均高于六年级。平均ARI评分为6.91±2.06(范围3.1-14.0)。根据ARI评分,有28个(37.84%)网站的写作水平达到或低于六年级。单样本t检验表明,FRES(p<0.001,CI-10.2至-6.37),FKGL(p<0.001,CI1.23至2.01),GFI(p<0.001,CI2.72至3.69),SMOG(p<0.001,CI0.97至1.62),CLI(p<0.001,CI7.46至8.27),和ARI(p<0.001,CI0.43至1.39)评分与公认标准有显著差异。FRES得分(p=0.009)和CLI得分(p=0.009)的单向方差分析(ANOVA)测试显示类别之间存在显着差异。事后测试显示,FRES得分(p=0.010,CI-15.17至-1.47)和CLI得分(p=0.008,CI0.35至3.29)在学术和非营利类别之间存在显着差异。结论大多数关于髋关节OA的网站都在推荐阅读水平以上,因此超过了普通患者的理解水平。必须提高这些资源的可读性,以改善患者对在线医疗保健信息的访问,从而提高患者对自身状况和治疗结果的了解。