Dean Wang|Rohit Jayakar|Natalie L. Leong|Michael P. Leathers|Riley J. Williams|Kristofer J. Jones
Evaluation of the Quality, Accuracy, and Readability of Online Patient Resources for the Management of Articular Cartilage Defects
University of California, Los Angeles|University of California, Los Angeles|University of California, Los Angeles|University of California, Los Angeles|Hospital for Special Surgery|University of California, Los Angeles
objective patients commonly use internet obtain healthrelated information purpose study investigate quality accuracy readability online patient resources management articular cartilage defects design three search terms cartilage defect cartilage damage cartilage injury entered 3 internet search engines google bing yahoo first 25 websites search collected reviewed quality accuracy online information independently evaluated 3 reviewers using predetermined scoring criteria readability evaluated using fleschkincaid fk grade score results fiftythree unique websites evaluated quality ratings significantly higher websites fk score 11 compared score 11 p 0021 10 websites 19 differentiated focal cartilage defects diffuse osteoarthritis 7 70 elicited using search term cartilage defect p 0038 average accuracy websites high 117 maximum 12 average fk grade level 134 several grades higher recommended level readable patient education material eighth grade level conclusions quality readability online patient resources articular cartilage defects favor higher level education additionally majority websites distinguish focal chondral defects diffuse osteoarthritis fail provide appropriate patient education guidance available treatment clinicians help guide patients toward highquality accurate readable online patient education material