title: Partial Tonsillectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the content and readability of health information regarding partial tonsillectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A web search was performed using the term partial tonsillectomy in Google, Yahoo!, and Bing. The first 50 websites from each search were evaluated using HONcode standards for quality and content. Readability was assessed using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), Flesch Reading Ease, Gunning-Fog Index, Coleman-Liau Index, Automated Readability Index, and SMOG score. The Freeman-Halton extension of Fisher's exact test was used to compare categorical differences between engines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Less than half of the websites mentioned patient eligibility criteria (43.3%), referenced peer-reviewed literature (43.3%), or provided a procedure description (46.7%). Twenty-two websites (14.7%) were unrelated to partial tonsillectomy, and over half contained advertisements (52%). These finding were consistent across search engines and search terms. The mean FKGL was 11.6 ± 0.11, Gunning-Fog Index was 15.1 ± 0.13, Coleman-Liau Index was 14.6 ± 0.11, ARI was 12.9 ± 0.13, and SMOG grade was 14.0 ± 0.1. All readability levels exceeded the abilities of the average American adult.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current online information regarding partial tonsillectomy may not provide adequate information and may be written at a level too difficult for the average adult reader.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Levi
mesh_terms: D032882:Comprehension; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018579:Patient Selection; D014068:Tonsillectomy
keywords: Internet; partial tonsillectomy; patient education material; pediatric otolaryngology; readability; tonsillotomy