The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons' online patient education materials have reading levels higher than recommended, according to a study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.
The researchers evaluated readability for the academy's online patient education materials and compared their findings with results from 2008, to determine progress over the past few years. The recommended reading level for patient education materials is at or below 6th grade.
Here's what you need to know:
1. Only 3.9 percent of articles were written at or below the 6th grade reading level.
2. The researchers found that the majority, 84 percent, of articles were above an 8th grade reading level.
3. The anatomical categories that were most accessible for low-level readers were "Hand & Wrist" and "Foot & Ankle."
4. Articles in the present study had a lower mean readability score than the articles available in 2008.
5. The researchers conclude that AAOS should continue to work to improve the readability of its online patient education materials. They suggest that more accessible education materials will facilitate more effective physician-patient communication.