Ephraim w d gann
study was conducted more than a decade ago and the Gordon et al. found that average readability was at the 9 th grade level and none of the websites addressed 7 of the 12 topics evaluated.Ĭonsidering the Moody et al. Similarly, in an evaluation of 20 Spanish-language online resources about living kidney donation, Gordon et al. Each website, on average, covered only about one-third of the recommended information about living donation and fewer than half covered potential long-term medical and psychological risks, expected benefits to the donor, or the voluntary nature of donation. found that while most of the 86 national and international websites they reviewed provided accurate information, the majority were written above the 10 th grade level (6 th grade is recommended) and there was considerable variability in the range of recommended content covered. In an earlier analysis of living donation websites, Moody et al. However, numerous analyses have shown that most websites fall short of readability and quality standards. Consequently, guidelines exist for website developers seeking to disseminate health-related information to a diverse general public. More than three-fourths of adults in the United States (US) use the internet to access health-related information. If confronted with insufficient, unreliable, or inaccurate information online, otherwise willing adults may decide not to pursue evaluation or, perhaps worse, their decision to pursue evaluation may be misguided. Certainly, those exploring the possibility of living donation should have access to accurate, up-to-date information to facilitate informed decision-making about whether to pursue evaluation. There are many websites for such individuals to visit and some have called for a single online clearinghouse of information for potential LKDs. Some education campaigns are now focused on the general public to increase the number of non-directed LKDs.Īdults who may consider living kidney donation often begin their own self-educational process prior to contacting the transplant center by seeking information online. Innovative educational programs have been developed to help patients identify potential LKDs, all with the goal of increasing the likelihood of LDKT. Transplant-eligible patients are encouraged by their transplant providers to identify potential LKDs and ask them to consider undergoing evaluation. However, LDKT is made possible only by participation of a willing, altruistic, informed, healthy, and otherwise medical eligible living kidney donor (LKD). Live donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) is the best treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), providing superior outcomes compared to dialysis and deceased donor transplantation. Further, there is a need to more critically examine the accuracy of online living donation content in future investigations. We encourage the transplant community to consider playing a more active role in improving the overall quality of online information disseminated to the general public. Overall, the most common non-profit or patient advocacy organization websites do not meet the readability standards established by the National Institutes of Health and the American Medical Association, many lack fundamental information about living kidney donation, and most are not racially/ethnically diverse.
![ephraim w d gann ephraim w d gann](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61AkAnSFlDL.jpg)
On average, websites covered 18.5 (62%) of 30 recommended information topics (range: 7 to 28) and only 2.1 (23%) of 9 racial/ethnic diversity items (range: 0 to 6). Using standard readability metrics, 62% of sites were classified as “Difficult to read” and none achieved the recommended reading level of 6 th grade.
![ephraim w d gann ephraim w d gann](https://chicagodaytrading.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/wd-gann-books-methods-460x233.jpg)
We simulated a search of online information about living kidney donation and evaluated readability, topics covered, and racial/ethnic diversity of 21 websites meeting inclusion criteria (e.g., hosted by a non-profit or patient advocacy organization, English content, based in US). Adults exploring the possibility of living donation should have access to online content that is readable and comprehensive. More than three-fourths of adults in the US use the internet to access health-related information.