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Augmented Reality Navigation-Guided Core Decompression for Osteonecrosis of Femoral Head
Published on: April 12, 2022
Readability of Online Information on Core Decompression of the Hip for Avascular Necrosis
Aathir Ahmed1, John Mahon1, Ahmed Karkuri2
1Orthopaedics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, IRL.
Insights
Information on core decompression for avascular necrosis is too difficult for most patients to understand. Physicians should help patients by providing clear, easy-to-read information to improve health literacy and decision-making.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Health Literacy
- Medical Communications
Background:
- Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head, a condition of osteonecrosis, often leads to total hip arthroplasty.
- Early diagnosis enables alternative treatments like core decompression.
- Health literacy impacts patient outcomes, with lower levels linked to higher complication rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the readability of online patient information regarding core decompression for AVN.
- To determine if current online resources meet recommended health literacy standards.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-nine websites with core decompression information were analyzed for readability.
- Online readability software (WebFX) calculated Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES) and Reading Grade Level (RGL).
- Study conducted in the Republic of Ireland.
Main Results:
- The average FRES score was 48.8, indicating text that is "difficult to read."
- The average RGL was 8.46, exceeding the recommended sixth-grade level.
- Online information on core decompression is largely inaccessible to the general patient population.
Conclusions:
- Online patient information on core decompression is written above recommended readability levels.
- Physicians must actively provide clear, comprehensible information to patients.
- Empowering patients with understandable information facilitates informed health decisions.
Abstract:
Introduction Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head is a type of osteonecrosis, which is caused by the disruption of blood flow to the proximal femur, resulting in osteocyte death. Regression of the disease is rare, and most patients will ultimately progress to having a total hip arthroplasty performed. Early diagnosis of AVN allows treatment options beyond total hip arthroplasty. One such procedure described is core decompression of the femoral head. Health literacy is defined as the ability to make health decisions in the context of everyday life. It has been shown that lower levels of health literacy are associated with higher complication rates. It has been recommended that patient information documents are written at a reading grade level (RGL) no higher that the sixth grade to help with health literacy. Methods Twenty-nine websites containing information on core decompression were identified, and the online readability software WebFX (Pennsylvania, USA) was used to carry out analysis on readability. This software was able to generate a Flesch reading ease score (FRES) and an RGL for each website. The search was carried out in the Republic of Ireland. Results The mean FRES score was 48.8 (standard deviation (SD) +/-15.3), which categorizes the data as "difficult to read." The mean RGL was 8.46 (SD +/-2.34), which is higher than the recommended target. Conclusion This study has shown that the material on the Internet regarding core decompression is above the recommended readability levels for the majority of patients. This aligns with results from similar studies that have assessed the readability of online patient information. Given these outcomes, it is imperative for physicians to take an active role in curating and delivering information to their patients, ensuring that it is comprehensible. This approach aims to empower patients with a clearer understanding of core decompression, enabling them to make more informed decisions about their health.
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