Evaluating the Readability of Patient Education Materials for Anterior Vertebral Body Tethering, Distraction-Based Methods, and Posterior Spinal Fusion for the Treatment of Pediatric Spinal Deformity

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Figure 1
Reading grade level for each individual readability test; the box represents the interquartile range with the median represented by the horizontal line, while the whiskers represent the upper and lower quartiles; circles represent outliers. Abbreviations: BGP, Bormuth Grade Placement; CL, Coleman-Liau; GF, Gunning Fog; HJ, Harris-Jacobson Wide Range Formula; LIX, Läsbarhetsindex; NDC, New Dale-Chall; PG, postgraduate; RIX, rate index; SMOG, Simple Measure of Gobbledygook; U, university.
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Figure 2
Percentage of articles at the various collective reading grade levels.
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Figure 3
Mean percentage of various linguistic units; * represents a percentage different than all others at a P < 0.05.

Table 2

Individual and collective reading grade level for articles by treatment type.

Readability Test	AVBT vs Distraction		P	AVBT vs PSF		P	Distraction vs PSF		P
Readability Test	AVBT (Mean [range])	Distraction	P	AVBT	PSF	P	Distraction	PSF	P
Bormuth Grade Placement	10.6 (9.8–11.8)	10.4 (9–11.7)	0.217	10.6 (9.8–11.8)	10.2 (7.9–11.6)	0.032	10.4 (9–11.7)	10.2 (7.9–11.6)	0.295
Coleman-Liau	13.1 (10.2–17.5)	12.4 (8.5–17.2)	0.225	13.1 (10.2–17.5)	12 (5.1–16.8)	0.069	12.4 (8.5–17.2)	12 (5.1–16.8)	0.484
Fry	14.7 (10–17)	12.7 (7–17)	0.011	14.7 (10–17)	12.9 (6–17)	0.029	12.7 (7–17)	12.9 (6–17)	0.867
Gunning Fog	13.9 (10.1–18.4)	12.9 (7.8–18)	0.106	13.9 (10.1–18.4)	13.2 (7.5–18.4)	0.290	12.9 (7.8–18)	13.2 (7.5–18.4)	0.632
Harris-Jacobson Wide Range Formula	11.1 (9.6–11.3)	10.7 (6.4–11.3)	0.158	11.1 (9.6–11.3)	10.3 (4.6–11.3)	0.018	10.7 (6.4–11.3)	10.3 (4.6–11.3)	0.239
Läsbarhetsindex	10.9 (8–13)	10.5 (6–13)	0.343	10.9 (8–13)	10 (5–13)	0.049	10.5 (6–13)	10 (5–13)	0.283
New Dale-Chall	12.8 (9.5–16)	12.3 (7.5–16)	0.389	12.8 (9.5–16)	11.8 (4–16)	0.148	12.3 (7.5–16)	11.8 (4–16)	0.483
Rate Index	11 (8–13)	10.5 (6–13)	0.329	11 (8–13)	10 (5–13)	0.038	10.5 (6–13)	10 (5–13)	0.263
Raygor Estimate	14.3 (10–17)	12.9 (7–17)	0.078	14.3 (10–17)	12.2 (6–17)	0.010	12.9 (7–17)	12.2 (6–17)	0.371
SMOG	14.6 (11.9–17.9)	13.6 (8.8–17.5)	0.035	14.6 (11.9–17.9)	13.3 (8.5–17.4)	0.008	13.6 (8.8–17.5)	13.3 (8.5–17.4)	0.674
Collective	12.7 (10.1–15.2)	11.9 (7.5–15)	0.082	12.7 (10.1–15.2)	11.6 (6.4–15.2)	0.032	11.9 (7.5–15)	11.6 (6.4–15.2)	0.566