Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2025
Author Spotlight: Quantifying Pain Experience – An Illustrative Approach Using the Pain Body Diagram
Published on: July 7, 2023
Assessing parental comprehension of online resources on childhood pain
Elvan Ocmen1, Ismail Erdemir1, Hale Aksu Erdost1
1Dokuz Eylul University Medical Faculty, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Balcova, Izmir, Turkey.
Insights
Online patient education materials on child pain are difficult to read and have low reliability and quality. This can lead to anxious parents and unnecessary hospital visits.
Area of Science:
- Medical Informatics
- Health Communication
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Patient education materials (PEMs) are crucial for informing parents about child pain.
- Assessing the quality and readability of online PEMs is essential for effective health communication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the readability, reliability, and quality of internet-based PEMs concerning child pain.
- To compare the readability of these materials against recommended grade levels.
Main Methods:
- An observational study analyzed 96 PEM websites found using keywords like "Child Pain" and "Pediatric Pain" on Google.
- Readability was assessed using multiple formulas (FRES, FKGL, ARI, GFOG, CL, LW, SMOG).
- Website reliability and quality were evaluated using JAMA, GQS, and DISCERN scores.
Main Results:
- PEMs on child pain were found to have a readability level statistically higher than the recommended sixth-grade level across most formulas.
- The reliability and quality of the assessed websites were generally moderate-to-low.
- Health-related websites demonstrated higher quality based on JAMA scores.
Conclusions:
- Online PEMs for child pain often exceed recommended readability levels, potentially hindering parental comprehension.
- The moderate-to-low quality and readability of these resources may contribute to parental anxiety and increased healthcare utilization.
- Improving the readability and quality of public health information is vital.
Abstract:
We aimed to examine the patient education materials (PEMs) on the internet about "Child Pain" in terms of readability, reliability, quality and content. For our observational study, a search was made on February 28, 2024, using the keywords "Child Pain," "Pediatric Pain," and "Children Pain" in the Google search engine. The readability of PEMs was assessed using computer-based readability formulas (Flesch Reading Ease Score [FRES], Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level [FKGL], Automated readability index (ARI), Gunning Fog [GFOG], Coleman-Liau score [CL], Linsear Write [LW], Simple Measure of Gobbledygook [SMOG]). The reliability and quality of websites were determined using the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) score, Global Quality Score (GQS), and DISCERN score. 96 PEM websites included in our study. We determined that the FRES was 64 (32-84), the FKGL was 8.24 (4.01-15.19), ARI was 8.95 (4.67-17.38), GFOG was 11 (7.1-19.2), CL was 10.1 (6.95-15.64), LW was 8.08 (3.94-19.0) and SMOG was 8.1 (4.98-13.93). The scores of readability formulas showed that, the readability level of PEMs was statistically higher than sixth-grade level with all formulas (P = .011 for FRES, P < .001 for GFOG, P < .001 for ARI, P < .001 for FKGL, P < .001 for CL and P < .001 for SMOG), except LW formula (P = .112). The websites had moderate-to-low reliability and quality. Health-related websites had the highest quality with JAMA score. We found a weak negative correlation between Blexb score and JAMA score (P = .013). Compared to the sixth-grade level recommended by the American Medical Association and the National Institutes of Health, the readability grade level of child pain-related internet-based PEMs is quite high. On the other hand, the reliability and quality of PEMs were determined as moderate-to-low. The low readability and quality of PEMs could cause an anxious parent and unnecessary hospital admissions. PEMs on issues threatening public health should be prepared with attention to the recommendations on readability.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Nursing Process for Patient and Caregiver Teaching I: Assessment and Diagnosis
It is critical to determine the patient's learning needs during the assessment. Determination of learning needs compounds data...
02:04Bullying
01:26Methods of Documentation II: POMR
01:25Analgesia and Pain Management
01:23Assessment of the Cardiovascular System I: Subjective Data
Initial Enquiry
Ask the patient about their primary concern and thoroughly explore all reported symptoms.
Medical History
Investigate past illnesses affecting the cardiovascular system, such as angina, anemia, rheumatic fever, congenital heart disease, stroke, thrombophlebitis, dysrhythmias, varicosities
Inquire about symptoms...
01:23Assessment of Respiration
Subjective Assessment: Nurses interview the patient to gather information directly during the subjective assessment. It includes questions about the individual's medical history, medications, and symptoms, focusing on past respiratory conditions like...