Readability Assessment of Online Peripheral Artery Disease Education Materials

The Effect of Social Determinants of Health in Treating Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia

Social determinants of health (SDOHs) are broadly defined as nonmedical factors that impact the outcomes of one's health. SDOHs have been increasingly recognized in the literature as profound and modifiable factors on the outcomes of vascular care in peripheral artery disease (PAD) and chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) despite surgical and technological advancements. In this paper, we briefly review the SDOH and its impact on the management and outcome of patients with CLTI. We highlight the importance of understanding how SDOH impacts our patient population so the vascular community may provide more effective, inclusive, and equitable care.

Assessing the Readability of English and Spanish Online Patient Educational Materials for Deep Venous Thrombosis

INTRODUCTION

Online patient educational materials (OPEMs) help patients engage in their health care. The American Medical Association (AMA) recommends OPEM be written at or below the 6th grade reading level. This study assessed the readability of deep venous thrombosis OPEM in English and Spanish.

METHODS

Google searches were conducted in English and Spanish using "deep venous thrombosis" and "trombosis venosa profunda," respectively. The top 25 patient-facing results were recorded for each, and categorized into source type (hospital, professional society, other). Readability of English OPEM was measured using several scales including the Flesch Reading Ease Readability Formula and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level. Readability of Spanish OPEM was measured using the Fernández-Huerta Index and INFLESZ Scale. Readability was compared to the AMA recommendation, between languages, and across source types.

RESULTS

Only one (4%) Spanish OPEM was written at an easy level, compared to 7 (28%) English OPEM (P = 0.04). More English (28%) OPEM were easy to read compared to Spanish (4%), with a significant difference in reading difficulty breakdown between languages (P = 0.04). The average readability scores for English and Spanish OPEM across all scales were significantly greater than the recommended level (P < 0.01). Only four total articles (8%) met the AMA recommendation, with no significant difference between English and Spanish OPEM (P = 0.61).

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly all English and Spanish deep venous thrombosis OPEM analyzed were above the recommended reading level. English resources had overall easier readability compared to Spanish, which may represent a barrier to care. To limit health disparities, information should be presented at accessible reading levels.

Large language models and artificial intelligence chatbots in vascular surgery

Natural language processing is a subfield of artificial intelligence that aims to analyze human oral or written language. The development of large language models has brought innovative perspectives in medicine, including the potential use of chatbots and virtual assistants. Nevertheless, the benefits and pitfalls of such technology need to be carefully evaluated before their use in health care. The aim of this narrative review was to provide an overview of potential applications of large language models and artificial intelligence chatbots in the field of vascular surgery, including clinical practice, research, and education. In light of the results, we discuss current limits and future directions.

Development of an Education Material Targeting Patients Undergoing Lower Extremity Amputation due to Severe Limb Ischemia-A Qualitative Study

INTRODUCTION

Critical limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) is associated with a high risk of amputation, yet patients undergoing amputation due to CLTI have little knowledge of the amputation process and the rehabilitation that awaits. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate information material for patients undergoing amputation.

METHODS

Nine participants were included in the study. Two focus group interviews were performed with seven patients who had undergone lower extremity amputation due to CLTI within the past 2 y. Additionally, two individual interviews were carried out. A semistructured interview guide was used, and the interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis with a deductive approach.

RESULTS

Three themes were identified as essential for the design of the written information: Perspectives on design and formatting, Providing information to enhance participation in care, and Accessibility to information and support. The prototyped information leaflet was perceived as acceptable, useable, relevant, and comprehensible by the participants.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients to actively engage in their care, it is vital that their information needs are met and that they are provided with psychosocial support when needed. Written and oral information should be provided by a trusted healthcare professional.

Health Literacy and Disease Knowledge of Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease or Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A Scoping Review

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review summarises health literacy and disease knowledge in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) or peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and the influencing factors.

DATA SOURCES

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, PsychINFO, and CINAHL covering the period January 2012 to October 2022.

REVIEW METHODS

This scoping review was undertaken in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Inclusion criteria encompassed studies addressing health literacy, knowledge, perception, or awareness in patients with AAA or PAD. Two authors independently reviewed abstracts and full texts, resolving any discrepancies through discussion or by consulting a third author for consensus. All article types were included except letters, editorials, study protocols, reviews, and guidelines. No language restrictions were applied. Primary outcomes were health literacy and disease knowledge. Secondary outcomes were factors that could influence this. Quality assessment was done using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT).

RESULTS

The review included 32 articles involving a total of 5 268 patients. Four articles reported health literacy and the rest disease knowledge. Ten studies (31%) met all quality criteria. Twenty studies were quantitative, eight were qualitative, and four were mixed methods studies. The review revealed inadequate health literacy in the majority of patients, and disease knowledge was relatively low among patients with AAA and PAD, with disparities in measures and assessment tools across studies. Factors influencing health literacy and disease knowledge included socioeconomic status, education, income, and employment.

CONCLUSION

This scoping review revealed low health literacy and low disease knowledge in patients with AAA and PAD. Standardised health literacy assessment may contribute to improve communication strategies and decision aids to enhance patients' understanding and engagement in healthcare decisions, however further research is needed to prove its merits.

Readability of Spanish-Language Online Patient Educational Materials for Peripheral Artery Disease Do Not Meet Recommended Standards and Represent a Literacy Barrier to Care

BACKGROUND

Online resources are a valuable source of information for patients and have been reported to improve engagement and adherence to medical care. However, readability of online patient educational materials (OPEMs) is crucial for them to serve their intended purpose. The American Medical Association (AMA) recommends that OPEM be written at or below the sixth grade reading level. To avoid disparities in access to comprehensible health information on peripheral artery disease (PAD), it is imperative that the readability of PAD OPEM is appropriate for both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the readability of PAD OPEM in Spanish and compare to English-language OPEM.

METHODS

We conducted a Google search in English and Spanish using "peripheral arterial disease" and "enfermedad arterial periferica", respectively, and the top 25 patient-accessible articles were collected for each. Articles were categorized by source type: hospital, professional society, or other. Readability of English-language OPEM was measured using the Flesch Reading Ease Readability Formula, Automated Readability Index, Coleman-Liau Index, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Gunning Fog, Linsear Write Formula, and the Simple Measure of Gobbledygook Index. Readability of Spanish OPEM was measured using the Fernández-Huerta Index and Índice Flesch-Szigriszt Scale. Readability of the articles was compared to the AMA recommendation, between English- and Spanish-language, and across sources using statistical tests appropriate to the data.

RESULTS

OPEM from professional societies represented the fewest number of English- (n = 7, 28%) and Spanish-language (n = 6, 24%) articles. Most English-speaking (n = 18, 72%) and Spanish-language (n = 20, 80%) OPEM were considered difficult as measured by the Flesch Reading Ease Readability Formula and Fernández-Huerta Index, respectively, but did not significantly differ between languages (P = 0.59). There were no significant differences in the average readability of all readability measurements across sources (hospital, professional society, or other). All the average readability grade levels for English-speaking and Spanish-language OPEM was significantly higher than the sixth grade reading level (P < 0.01). Only 3 (6%) OPEM met the AMA recommended reading level and there was no significant difference between English-language and Spanish-language OPEM (P = 1.0).

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly all Spanish-language and English-language PAD OPEM assessed were written at a reading grade level higher than recommended by the AMA. There was no significant difference in the readability of materials from hospitals or professional societies. To prevent further widening of health disparities related to literacy, health content creators, particularly hospitals and professional societies, should prioritize, develop, and ensure that English-language and Spanish-language patient education materials are written at a level appropriate for the public.

Assessing the readability of online information about jones fracture

BACKGROUND

Hand in hand with technological advancements, treatment modalities continue to grow. With the turn of the century, the internet has become the number one source of information for almost every topic. Thus, many patients look toward the internet as their primary source of information to learn about their respective medical conditions. The American Medical Association and National Institute of Health strongly recommend that online medical information be written at the 6^th to 8^th-grade level to aid comprehension by patients of all literacy backgrounds.

AIM

To assess the readability of online information regarding Jones fracture. Our hypothesis is that the reading level of medical information published on websites far exceeds the recommended reading level of 6^th-8^th grade as proposed by the American Medical Associate and National Institute of Health. The result of this study can help us formulate improved recommendations for publishing more comprehensible material and, thus, eventually improve patient compliance and clinical outcomes.

METHODS

The exact phrase “Jones fracture” was queried on the three most common search engines, Google, Yahoo!, and Bing, on December 28, 2022. As of December 2022, Google held 84%, Bing held 9%, and Yahoo! held 2% of the worldwide search engine market share. Web pages uniform resource locator from the first three pages of search results were recorded from each search engine. These web pages were classified according to academic, physician-sponsored, governmental and non-government organizations (NGO), commercial, and unspecified as per formally defined categories. Websites associated with an educational institution or medical organization were classified as academic. Websites with products for sale, corporate sponsorship, or advertisements were classified as commercial. Governmental websites or NGOs comprised those that received government subsidies or grants. Webpages that were independently owned by physicians or physician groups were respectively classed as physician sponsored. The remainder of websites that did not fall under the above categories were classified as unspecified.

RESULTS

A total of 93 websites were analyzed for reading assessment. A whopping 44% of websites were commercial, followed by 22% of physician-sponsored websites. Third place belonged to non-government organization websites holding a 15% share. The academic website held a meager 9% portion, while unspecified sites were 3%. The table illustrates mean readability scores, along with average cumulative grade level. The average grade level was 10.95 ± 2.28 for all websites, with a range of 6.18 to 18.90. Since P values were more than 0.05, there was not a significant statistical difference between the first page results and the results of all pages. Thus, we can rationalize that readability scores are consistent throughout all pages of a website.

CONCLUSION

Hand in hand with technological advancements, treatment modalities continue to grow. With the turn of the century, the internet has become the number one source of information for almost every topic. Thus, many patients look towards the internet as the primary source of information to learn about their respective medical conditions. Our study demonstrates that current online medical information regarding Jones fracture is written at an extraordinarily high-grade level, with an average grade level of all websites at 10.95, nearly an 10^th-grade educational level. The American Medical Association and National Institute of Health strongly recommend that online medical information should be written at the 6^th to 8^th-grade level to aid comprehension by patients of all literacy backgrounds. On the contrary, most of the medical information evaluated was at an 10^th-grade level, which far exceeds recommendations by AMA and NIH. This is particularly relevant because readability scores are directly proportional to the level of comprehension attained by readers, thus directly impacting patient outcomes. In conclusion, we suggest and encourage that all online reading materials should be re-written at the 6^th to 8^th-grade level in a public service effort to increase compliance with treatment goals and raise awareness of preventive measures.

Readability of Online Information on the Latarjet Procedure

Introduction A common complication of first-time or recurrent shoulder dislocations is bone loss at the humeral head and glenoid. Recurrent shoulder instability is often a result of bony defects in the glenoid following shoulder dislocations. In the setting of glenoid bone loss, surgical interventions are generally required to restore stability. The Latarjet procedure is a challenging operation and, due to its complexity, may be associated with operative complications. It can be difficult to explain the procedure to patients in a manner that is easily comprehensible, which may lead to confusion or being overwhelmed with information. Hence, it is important that the information available to patients is easily accessible and perceivable to allow for adequate health literacy. Health literacy is defined as the ability to make health decisions in the context of everyday life. Methods The search engines Google and Bing were accessed on a single day in the month of July 2023, searching the terms "Latarjet surgery" and "Latarjet procedure." For each term on both search engines, the first three pages were evaluated, resulting in a total of 114 websites for review. Out of these, 25 websites met the inclusion criteria and underwent further in-depth analysis through the online readability software, WEB FX. This software generated a Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES) and a Reading Grade Level (RGL) for each website. Results In our study, the mean FRES was 50.3 (SD ±12.5), categorizing the data as 'fairly difficult to read.' The mean RGL score was 8.12 (SD ±2.35), which exceeds the recommended target. Conclusion In conclusion, the results of this study have demonstrated that the material available on the Internet about the Latarjet procedure is above the recommended readability levels for the majority of the population. Our findings align with similar studies assessing the readability of online patient information. Based on these findings, physicians should provide patients with vetted information to facilitate a better understanding of the procedure, thereby enabling patients to make more informed decisions regarding their health.

A readability analysis of patient education materials about chronic venous disease provided by professional vascular societies

BACKGROUND

Professional vascular societies and forums have disseminated patient information on education materials about chronic venous disease (CVD) via their official websites. While online patient education material is readily available with an Internet connection, its practical utility may be limited for patients with low health literacy.

METHODS

Six readability measures were used to evaluate the patient education materials regarding CVD published by 12 professional medical societies.

RESULTS

Patient education materials on CVD vary considerably in length among medical societies, and their comprehensibility points toward a difficult level. The mean readability score was 11.20, prominently above the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and American Medical Association (AMA) recommendations.

CONCLUSION

Our analysis of patient education materials produced by 12 professional vascular societies and forums found that all materials exceeded the recommended readability levels. The innovative section "Information for patients'' in the ESVS CVD guidelines also exceeded these levels. Improving the readability of patient education materials is essential to meet patient health literacy standards and might improve patient outcomes in managing CVD.

Assessing the Readability of Online Patient Education Materials in Obstetrics and Gynecology Using Traditional Measures: Comparative Analysis and Limitations

BACKGROUND

Patient education materials (PEMs) can be vital sources of information for the general population. However, despite American Medical Association (AMA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommendations to make PEMs easier to read for patients with low health literacy, they often do not adhere to these recommendations. The readability of online PEMs in the obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) field, in particular, has not been thoroughly investigated.

OBJECTIVE

The study sampled online OB/GYN PEMs and aimed to examine (1) agreeability across traditional readability measures (TRMs), (2) adherence of online PEMs to AMA and NIH recommendations, and (3) whether the readability level of online PEMs varied by web-based source and medical topic. This study is not a scoping review, rather, it focused on scoring the readability of OB/GYN PEMs using the traditional measures to add empirical evidence to the literature.

METHODS

A total of 1576 online OB/GYN PEMs were collected via 3 major search engines. In total 93 were excluded due to shorter content (less than 100 words), yielding 1483 PEMs for analysis. Each PEM was scored by 4 TRMs, including Flesch-Kincaid grade level, Gunning fog index, Simple Measure of Gobbledygook, and the Dale-Chall. The PEMs were categorized based on publication source and medical topic by 2 research team members. The readability scores of the categories were compared statistically.

RESULTS

Results indicated that the 4 TRMs did not agree with each other, leading to the use of an averaged readability (composite) score for comparison. The composite scores across all online PEMs were not normally distributed and had a median at the 11th grade. Governmental PEMs were the easiest to read amongst source categorizations and PEMs about menstruation were the most difficult to read. However, the differences in the readability scores among the sources and the topics were small.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found that online OB/GYN PEMs did not meet the AMA and NIH readability recommendations and would be difficult to read and comprehend for patients with low health literacy. Both findings connected well to the literature. This study highlights the need to improve the readability of OB/GYN PEMs to help patients make informed decisions. Research has been done to create more sophisticated readability measures for medical and health documents. Once validated, these tools need to be used by web-based content creators of health education materials.