Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38062224›Full record

ArticleSleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung2024

The readability of online patient education materials on maxillomandibular advancement surgery.

Sofia Khan, Rameen K Walters, Angelica M Walker, Shaun A Nguyen, Stanley Y Liu, Timothy J Tremont, Mohamed A Abdelwahab

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Sleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Online Resources for Migraine Surgery: Readability and Patient Understanding.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2026
    Article
  2. Patient Educational Materials for Pheochromocytoma Exceed Recommended Readability Level: An Analysis Across Three Independent Reading Instruments.Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education · 2026
    Article
  3. Evaluation of Readability in Patient Education Materials for Primary Hyperparathyroidism.Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education · 2026
    Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Sofia KhanDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, 135 Rutledge Avenue, MSC 500, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA. sofkha11@gmail.com.ORCID 0000-0002-6991-9694
Rameen K WaltersDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, 135 Rutledge Avenue, MSC 500, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
Angelica M WalkerDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, 135 Rutledge Avenue, MSC 500, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
Shaun A NguyenDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, 135 Rutledge Avenue, MSC 500, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
Stanley Y LiuDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
Timothy J TremontDepartment of Orthodontics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
Mohamed A AbdelwahabDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, 135 Rutledge Avenue, MSC 500, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

STUDY

objectivesMaxillomandibular advancement (MMA) is an effective surgical option for patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). As a relatively new treatment option, patients may turn to the Internet to learn more. However, online patient education materials (OPEMs) on MMA may be written at a higher literacy level than recommended for patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the readability of OPEMs on MMA.

methodsA Google search of "maxillomandibular advancement" was performed, and the first 100 results were screened. Websites that met eligibility criteria were analyzed for their readability using the Automated Readability Index (ARI), Coleman-Liau Index (CLI), Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), Gunning Fog (GF), and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) and compared to the recommended sixth-grade reading level using one-tailed t tests. Readability scores were compared based on the type of website, including hospitals/universities or physician clinics, using ANOVA tests.

resultsThe mean (SD) for ARI, CLI, FKGL, GF, and SMOG was 11.91 (2.43), 13.42 (1.81), 11.91 (2.06), 14.32 (2.34), and 13.99 (1.56), respectively. All readability scores were significantly higher than a sixth-grade reading level (p < 0.001). After comparing readability scores between different website types (university/hospital, clinic, and other), there was no statistical difference found.

conclusionsThe available OPEMs on MMA surgery for OSA are above the recommended sixth-grade reading level. Identifying and reducing the gap between the reading levels of OPEMs and the reading level of the patient are needed to encourage a more active role, informed decisions, and better patient satisfaction.

Indexed as

ComprehensionInternetMandibular AdvancementPatient Education as TopicHealth LiteracyHumansSleep Apnea, ObstructiveHealth literacyMaxillomandibular advancementOnline patient education materialsReadability

Identifiers

PMID38062224

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.