Are we being forthright with the patients about vertebral body tethering? Quality, contemporaneity, and readability analysis of the online content about vertebral body tethering.
Rajul Gupta, Aakanksha Sriwastwa, Saral J Patel, Neal Taliwal, Alvin C Jones, Peter F Sturm, Viral V Jain
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose: The majority of patients refer to online patient education content before elective surgeries, including Vertebral Body Tethering (VBT). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality, contemporaneity, and readability of patient information web pages across different sources (teaching hospital, private HCF, commercial/news, and non-profit organization) on VBT.
Methods: The search results from Google and Bing were analyzed using a systematic approach, excluding peer-reviewed articles, insurance policy documents, and videos. Forty-seven web pages were reviewed for quality based on preoperative, operative, and postoperative information, alongside compliance with Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria. The web page content was assessed using a contemporaneity score, which evaluated the inclusion of the latest research. Readability was assessed using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade level and Gunning-Fog Index.
Results: The overall mean quality score, JAMA score, and contemporaneity scores were 7.63 (95% CI 6.63-8.64) out of 16, one (95% CI 0.68-1.32) out of four, and 0.61 (95% CI 0.33-0.9) out of five, respectively. The mean Flesch-Kincaid grade level and Gunning-Fog index were 11.7 (95% CI 10.88-12.55) and 14.94 (95% CI 14.12-15.75), respectively. Higher Quality scores also correlated with better Flesch-Kincaid and Gunning-Fox readability scores (Quality score-Flesch-Kincaid grade level: ρ = - 0.38, p = 0.0074; Quality score-Gunning-Fog index: ρ = - 0.354, p = 0.0161).
Conclusion: Existing patient education material contains limited and fragmentary information, lacks essential details, does not reflect the current limitations of VBT, and is written at a much advanced reading level than recommended. The material requires thorough revision, given that VBT is a relatively new surgical procedure with evolving indications and outcomes.
期刊介绍：
Spine Deformity the official journal of the?Scoliosis Research Society is a peer-refereed publication to disseminate knowledge on basic science and clinical research into the?etiology?biomechanics?treatment?methods and outcomes of all types of?spinal deformities. The international members of the Editorial Board provide a worldwide perspective for the journal's area of interest.The?journal?will enhance the mission of the Society which is to foster the optimal care of all patients with?spine?deformities worldwide. Articles published in?Spine Deformity?are Medline indexed in PubMed.? The journal publishes original articles in the form of clinical and basic research. Spine Deformity will only publish studies that have institutional review board (IRB) or similar ethics committee approval for human and animal studies and have strictly observed these guidelines. The minimum follow-up period for follow-up clinical studies is 24 months.
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