Elucidating Orthopaedic Trauma Procedures: Are the Current Patient Educational Materials Useful?

The widespread use of the Internet for health-related information has transformed patient engagement, yet the readability of online educational resources remains a significant concern. This study evaluates the readability, understandability, and actionability of online patient education materials for common orthopaedic trauma conditions. Thirty-two conditions listed on the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) website were assessed using the Flesch-Kincaid (FK) readability test and the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT). The results showed that the average Flesch-Kincaid reading ease was 47.9, corresponding to a “college-level” difficulty, and the average FK grade level was 8.7, well above the recommended reading level of 6th grade. Only 1.25% of the websites had a reading ease score that met or was below the 6th-grade level, and 3.75% of websites were at or below a 6th-grade reading level. While the overall understandability of the materials was high (mean PEMAT score of 85), actionability was much lower (mean PEMAT score of 48). These findings underscore a gap in the accessibility of online orthopaedic education for the general public. To improve patient comprehension and outcomes, it is crucial for orthopaedic surgeons to be equipped with tools to evaluate the quality of educational resources before recommending them to patients. This study also highlights the need for further development of readable, actionable, and understandable materials to support patient education and enhance healthcare delivery.