David R. Hansberry|Ashley L Donovan|Arpan V. Prabhu|Nitin Agarwal|Mougnyan Cox|Adam E. Flanders
Enhancing the Radiologist-Patient Relationship through Improved Communication: A Quantitative Readability Analysis in Spine Radiology
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital|UPMC Hillman Cancer Center|UPMC Hillman Cancer Center|University of Pittsburgh Medical Center|Neurological Surgery|Thomas Jefferson University Hospital|Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
h3background purposeh3 75 million americans less adequate health literacy skills according national center education statistics readability scores used measure well populations read understand patient education materials purpose study assess readability web sites dedicated patient education radiologic spine imaging interventions h3materials methodsh3 eleven search terms relevant radiologic spine imaging searched public internet top 10 links term collected analyzed determine readability scores using 10 wellvalidated quantitative readability assessments patientcentered education web sites search terms included following xray spine ct spine mr imaging spine lumbar puncture kyphoplasty vertebroplasty discogram myelogram cervical spine thoracic spine lumbar spine h3resultsh3 collectively 110 articles written 113 grade level grade range 71169 none articles written american medical association national institutes health recommended 3rdto7th grade reading levels vertebroplasty articles written statistically significant ipi lt 05 advanced level articles xray spine ct spine mr imaging spine h3conclusionsh3 increasing use internet obtain health information made imperative online patient education written easy comprehension average american however given discordance readability scores articles american medical association national institutes health recommended guidelines likely many patients fully benefit resources