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General Surgery

Assessment of Online Patient Education Resources from Reflux Centers Across the United States

Thursday, September 15, 2022
3:10 PM – 3:20 PM East Coast USA Time
Location: JW Grand Ballroom 5-6
2nd Place
Reference 1: Clarrett DM, Hachem C. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Mo Med. 2018;115(3):214-218.
Reference 2: Berland, Gretchen K., et al. “Health Information on the Internet: Accessibility, Quality, and Readability in English and Spanish.” JAMA, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2001, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4182102/.
Reference 3: 0
Disclosure(s):
Archana Chandrashekar, DO: No financial relationships to disclose
Introduction/Purpose: The goal of this study is to asses the readability of online patient resources for gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), provided by reflex centers across the United States. Current NIH (National Institute of Health) and AMA (American Medical Association) recommendations are that educational resources should be below the 6th grade reading level to aid in patient comprehension.

Methods or Case Description: An online search was conducted using words, "GERD center" and "Reflux Center". The website’s general description of reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease was assessed using the following readability tests: Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), Gunning Fox Index (GFI), Coleman-Liau Index (CLI), and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG).  The four readability tests were compared to the recommended readability level (grade level ≤ 6.9) utilizing a one-sample t-test. A p-value of < 0.005 was used to determine statistical significance. 

Outcomes: Of the 52 websites analyzed, none (0%) met the AMA and NIH recommendations of below the 6th grade reading level for educational materials. Mean readability test scores were: FKGL(13.72), GFI(14.47), CLI(13.29) and SMOG(13.09). This was compared to a value of 6.9 with a one-sample t-test, revealing a p-value of 0.001 for all four tests which is considered statistically significant.  

Conclusion: Our study shows that online resources provided by many reflux centers in the United States have a reading level well above the sixth grade, making it difficult for the average patient to comprehend information provided on gastroesphageal reflux disorder. We propose that the online resources be written in the sixth-grade level or below, per the AMA and NIH recommendations, to improve patient education regarding reflux pathology and treatment.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Evaluate online educational resources for patients seeking knowledge about reflux disorder.
  2. Identify a need to make online resources more palatable to patients seeking information regarding gastroesophageal reflux disorder.
  3. Encourage healthcare associates to review and revitalize online resources, so patients can comprehend the diagnosis and management options for reflux disorders.