Spanish language resources for patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Despite an increasing Spanish-speaking population, United States health care remains English dominant. The purpose of this study was to analyze the availability and readability of written patient education materials on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) provided by the top pediatric orthopedic hospitals and the major professional societies.

We performed a cross sectional analysis by determining the proportion of top pediatric orthopedic hospitals and major orthopedic professional societies providing English and Spanish resources. We also assessed the readability of information provided via three measures of readability. Descriptive, univariate, and multivariate analyses were performed.

Approximately 90% of hospitals provided English-language education, but only 37% of hospitals provided Spanish-language education. English and Spanish hospital resources were equivalent in readability across Reading Ease scores (p > 0.05), but Spanish-language resources ranked lower in grade level (8th grade vs. 10th grade, p = 0.01) and readability measures (9.6 vs. 11.6, p < 0.01). Two of the three major orthopedic professional organizations provided Spanish-language resources. The availability and readability of resources in states where more than 20% of the population spoke Spanish did not differ compared to institutions in states with fewer Spanish-speaking patients (p > 0.05).

The availability of Spanish-language resources for patients with AIS is limited, and the reading level for all educational resources is above the suggested level for patient education. Additional effort and resources should be allocated to the improvement of patient education as well as the development of Spanish-language resources for patients with AIS.