Cleft lip and palate online materials too complex for caregivers

A new analysis of online patient education materials for cleft lip and palate finds that they are consistently written at reading levels that are too complex for the average caregiver. The study, a systematic review and meta-analysis of nine studies, looked at materials found in PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases. It measured readability using four common tests: Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Flesch Reading Ease, SMOG Index, and Gunning Fog Index. All four tests showed that the materials exceeded recommended readability levels. For example, the average Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level was 9.48, meaning the text requires a 9th to 10th grade reading level, while experts recommend 6th to 7th grade for health materials. The researchers also looked at whether artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT could simplify the text, but they noted that these tools have not been tested for usability or comprehension. The study did not report any safety concerns, as it focused on readability, not clinical outcomes. The main limitation is that AI tools were not tested with real users. What this means for readers: if you are a caregiver for a child with cleft lip or palate, you may find online materials hard to understand. Doctors and health organizations should work to make these resources easier to read.