Background

The Internet has extensive online resources for kidney transplantation recipients. However, it is unclear if these materials are comprehensible for kidney transplant patients. Nearly, one-half of the US population reads at or below a 7^th grade level. Previous studies showed that living donor recipients have statistically significant higher health literacy rates compared to deceased donor recipients. However, there has been no study to date comparing the readability of online living donor recipient materials versus the readability of deceased donor recipient materials.

Methods

Readability analysis was performed using the 8 most common readability scales on the top 10 Internet websites for live donor and deceased donor kidney transplantation. Readability analysis was performed through the Readability Studio Professional Edition Software (Vandalia, Ohio). USA reading grade level was determined for each site.

Results

Overall, the mean reading level for the Living Donor materials was 12.54 (range 9.2-17) and for the Deceased Donor materials, 12.87 (range 8.7-17, P=0.7322), corresponding to a university level. None of the 20 sites met the 7^th grade level recommended by the NIH, as evidenced by the 8 readability scales. Conclusions

The readability of online materials for both living donor recipients and deceased donor recipients remain far too high for the corresponding health literacy rates among patients with chronic kidney disease requiring transplantation. In particular, the lower health literacy rates among patients ultimately receiving deceased donor transplants does not mirror the readability of online materials provided at a university level. This may affect patient comprehension and decision-making, contributing to a smaller proportion of patients of a lower socioeconomic status, minorities, and those with poor English language skills pursuing live donor organs.

CITATION INFORMATION: Zhou E, Kiwanuka E, Cioffi W, Morrissey P. Online Patient Resources for Deceased Donor and Live Donor Kidney Recipients: A Comparative Analysis of Readability. Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).

« Back to 2017 American Transplant Congress