Accessibility to Puberphonia Online and Its Readability by Patients

Summary Objective To assess the readability of online materials related to puberphonia. Study design Online material review. Method The study was conducted by performing a Google search using the specific keyword "puberphonia." Subsequently, 18 websites were selected for inclusion in the review based on predefined criteria. The selected websites underwent assessment utilizing three distinct readability metrics: Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES), and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL). Results The analysis of the selected websites revealed the following mean scores: a mean FRES of 40.2, a mean FKGL of 11.8, and a mean SMOG score of 10.9. The physician-oriented websites had a mean FRES score of 35.8, a mean FKGL score of 12.5, and a mean SMOG score of 11.4. The patient-oriented websites exhibited a mean FRES score of 44.6, a mean FKGL score of 11.3, and a mean SMOG score of 10.5. Conclusion The findings of this study indicate that the readability and understandability of online resources related to puberphonia exhibit high scores, suggesting that the materials may be challenging for patients to comprehend. Addressing and enhancing the readability of these online resources is crucial, as it has the potential to enhance patient awareness and comprehension of puberphonia, ultimately leading to more informed health care decisions and improved patient outcomes.