title: [Systematic analysis of the readability of patient information on the websites of clinics for plastic surgery].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Internet is becoming increasing-ly important as a source of information for patients in medical issues. However, many patients have problems to adequately understand texts, especially with medical content. A basic requirement to understand a written text is the read-ability of a text. The aim of the present study was to examine texts on the websites of German -plastic-surgical hospitals with patient information regarding their readability.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, the read-ability of texts of 27 major departments of plastic and Hand surgery in Germany was systematically analysed using 5 recognised readability indices. First, texts were searched based on 20 representative key words and themes. Thereafter, texts were assigned to one of 3 major themes in order to enable statistical analysis. In addition to the 5 readability indices, further objective text parameters were also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 288 texts were found for analyzation. Most articles were found on the topic of "handsurgery" (n=124), less were found for "facial plastic surgery" (n=80) and "flaps, breast and reconstructive surgery" (n=84). Consistently, all readability indices showed a poor readability for the vast majority of analysed texts with the text appearing readable only for readers with a higher educational level. No significant differences in readability were found between the 3 major themes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Especially in the communication of medical information, it is important to consider the knowledge and education of the addressee. The texts studied consistently showed a readability that is understandable only for academics. Thus, a large part of the intended target group is probably not reached. In order to adequately deliver online information material, a revision of the analysed internet texts appears to be recommendable.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hand, Plastische, Rekonstruktive und Verbrennungschirurgie, BG-Unfallklinik, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen.
authors.forename: B Janghorban
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Esfahani
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hand, Plastische, Rekonstruktive und Verbrennungschirurgie, BG-Unfallklinik, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faron
authors.affiliation: Deutsches Seminar, Abteilung Linguistik, Universität Zürich, Zuerich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hand, Plastische, Rekonstruktive und Verbrennungschirurgie, BG-Unfallklinik, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen.
authors.forename: H-E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Schaller
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hand, Plastische, Rekonstruktive und Verbrennungschirurgie, BG-Unfallklinik, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Medved
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie, Uniklinik Köln, Köln.
authors.forename: J-C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lüers
mesh_terms: D032882:Comprehension; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D005858:Germany; D057220:Health Literacy; D006751:Hospital Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011932:Reading; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital; D013518:Surgery, Plastic