Assessment of the Readability Levels of Turkish-Language Websites on Hybrid Prostheses: A Methodological Study

Authors : Mehmet Ünal, İpek Balevi Akkese
Pages : 308-318
Doi:10.59244/ktokusbd.1744075
View : 25 | Download : 13
Publication Date : 2025-08-26
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :Objective: This study aims to evaluate the readability levels of patient education materials found on Turkish-language websites related to hybrid prostheses, using the Ateşman Readability Index. Methods: Sixty Turkish-language web pages identified via Google search were examined based on predetermined inclusion criteria. Linguistic data extracted from the texts were analyzed using SPSS 27.0 software. Readability levels were calculated using the Ateşman formula and classified into easy, moderate, and difficult categories. Results: Among the evaluated websites, 68.8% belonged to private dental clinics. According to the Ateşman scores, 66.6% of the texts demonstrated moderate readability, 28.8% were categorized as difficult, and 4.4% were considered very difficult to read. The mean word count of the evaluated texts was 404±286, and the average Ateşman score was calculated as 54.6±12.8. This study systematically evaluates the readability levels of Turkish-language patient education content on hybrid prostheses using the Ateşman Readability Formula, offering a comprehensive perspective on the accessibility of digital health information. The findings shed light on the extent to which online content related to prosthodontic treatments—where shared decision-making between patient and clinician is crucial—can be comprehended by the general public. Conclusion: The majority of Turkish-language online content on hybrid prostheses requires at least high school-level health literacy for comprehension. This may hinder the general public’s ability to access and interpret such information. To enhance the effectiveness of patient education, it is recommended that digital health materials be simplified and adapted to more accessible readability levels.
Keywords : Hibrit protez, okunabilirlik, web siteleri, Ateşman İndeksi, sağlık okuryazarlığı

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