Readability Assessment of Internet-based Patient Education Materials Related to Treatment Options for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Dr. Pratik Shukla and his team raised, evaluated, and attempted to give guidance on an often-overlooked aspect of medical care with respect to online internet-based patient education materials (IPEMs). They focused specifically on the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. The study also reported that patients with lower health literacy incur a higher cost per year than an average person.

The key takeaways from the article are that physicians greatly overestimate a patient's literacy level and the materials we provide patients are consistently written are at or above a 10th-grade reading level and that the focus should be on creating materials at a 6th-grade reading level. I would highly recommend reading this article and review your patient education materials.

Written by: Art Rastinehad, DO, Associate Professor of Urology and Radiology, Vice Chair of Urology at Lenox Hill Hospital, System Director for Prostate Cancer

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