Readability of Patient Information Texts About Apical Resection on Turkish Websites: Quantitative Research

Objectives The aim of this study is to analyze the readability level of patient information texts about apicoectomy available on the internet. Materials and Methods In the Google search (Google LLC, Mountain View, California, USA) using the keywords 'kök ucu ameliyatı,' the first 60 websites were examined. The patient information and education texts in Turkish were included. The obtained patient information texts were evaluated according to the Ateşman Readability Index. Additionally, it was assessed whether the text contents provided sufficient information about apical resection. The SPSS 23 statistical package program was used for data analysis. Within the scope of the study, the normal distribution of the data was calculated using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test." Results Among the 60 websites, 50 met the inclusion criteria. It was understood that the texts examined within the scope of the study were of medium difficulty according to the Ateşman Readability Index (57.80±7.49). 82% of readers have moderate reading difficulties. When the readability levels of the texts were examined according to the grade levels, it was determined that the highest rate was at the 11th-12th grade level, with 46% Conclusion The results of the study showed that the patient information texts on Turkish websites have moderate reading difficulty. It was concluded that the content of the information on the websites examined in the study was sufficient regarding apical resection, but not enough information was provided about complications. It was concluded that if the information texts prepared on the websites are not sufficiently understood by the patients, they will not have a sufficient effect on the reader.