Online Patient Education Materials for Pediatric Septic Arthritis Exceed Recommended Reading Levels: A Readability
Nicholas J Pettinelli1,2, Madison C Blackwell2, Mark Schwartz3
1Trauma Institute, Saint Francis Health System, Tulsa, USA.
Cureus
|February 16, 2026
Summary
Patient education materials on pediatric septic arthritis often exceed recommended readability levels, hindering access to crucial orthopedic emergency information for families. Improving these materials is vital for health equity.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Pediatric Medicine
- Health Communication
Background:
- Pediatric septic arthritis is a critical orthopedic emergency requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment.
- Accessible patient education materials (PEMs) are essential for families seeking information on this condition.
- Existing orthopedic PEMs often present readability challenges, exceeding recommended grade levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the readability of online PEMs for pediatric septic arthritis.
- To assess the alignment of these materials with established readability guidelines.
- To analyze content from top-ranked US pediatric orthopedic hospitals.
Main Methods:
- Searched websites of the top 25 US pediatric orthopedic hospitals for relevant PEMs.
- Analyzed 12 qualifying PEMs using eight standardized readability metrics.
- Correlated Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) with hospital ranking.
Main Results:
- The average readability was 10.6 grade level, significantly above the recommended sixth-grade level.
- None of the PEMs met the recommended readability standards.
- Seven PEMs were written above the eighth-grade reading level, while five (41.7%) were at or below it, often using third-party content.
Conclusions:
- A significant portion of top pediatric orthopedic hospitals do not provide accessible PEMs for septic arthritis.
- Available online information on pediatric septic arthritis frequently exceeds recommended readability levels.
- Implementing plain language, external reviews, or AI-assisted editing can improve material accessibility and health equity.
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