How are new medical research findings in urology communicated to patients and the public?: Presenter(s): Cait Bleakley, Royal Devon University Hospitals, United Kingdom. (April 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Campain, Nicholas; John, Joseph
• Is Part Of: Patient education and counseling. Volume 109(2023)Supplement
• Page Start: 81
• Page End: 82
• Publication Date: 2023-04
• Subjects: Patient education -- Periodicals; Health counseling -- Periodicals; Health education -- Periodicals; Counseling -- Periodicals; Patient Education -- Periodicals; Éducation des patients -- Périodiques; Counseling -- Périodiques; Éducation sanitaire -- Périodiques; 615.5071
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2022.10.191
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0738-3991

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Informed patient decision-making defines good medical practice. Patients increasingly use the internet and social media to find information relating to their health, although the accuracy of online content varies. No clear consensus guidelines exist describing how medical journals should communicate their Findings: to patients and public (P&P). This study analyses how urology journals communicate new research Findings: with P&P. Methods: All 77 English language urology journals were reviewed in December 2021. The presence, location, and accessibility of Plain English Summary (PES) content designed to accompany original research was assessed, including via journal websites, third party search engines and social media (SM). P&P-facing content was evaluated using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level and Gunning-Fog readability scores. These assess sentence structure to grossly estimate complexity. Journal aims and scope and author guidance were reviewed for evidence of a specific P&P focus. Accessibility of P&P-facing content was assessed. Findings: Overall, 32 journals (42%) were open access and 50 (65%) had SM accounts; Twitter was most commonly used (57%). Two (3%) journals specifically referenced P&P audiences in their aims and scope. 11 journals (14%) produced PES either on SM or with manuscripts, however a minimum of college level reading ability was required to comprehend them. European Urology and its sister journals were alone in providing dedicated online patient summary repositories. Discussion: The majority of new medical research Findings: presented in urology journals are not routinely made available for P&P, despite the majority of journals freely publicising their articles on social media. When P&P-oriented summaries are produced these commonly use complex sentence structures, and patient comprehension is unknown. Consideration should be given to developing best-practice guidelines for producing P&P-facing literature.