Online information for dog owners regarding cranial cruciate ligament injury and recovery does not meet health literacy recommendations.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the literacy level of online resources for management and recovery after cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR) in dogs. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional observational study evaluating the readability and suitability of online information sources describing CCLR management and recovery. Websites were queried on June 25, 2025. Websites lacking relevance or limited to videos, graphics, tables, blogs, or discussions were excluded. The first 15 online sources describing CCLR management and describing CCLR recovery were analyzed using the Flesch Reading Ease score and the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score. Scores were compared with those recommended by the American Medical Association to ensure understanding of medical communications by a broad segment of the US population (sixth-grade reading level). RESULTS: For CCLR management, the mean &#xb1; SD (95% CI) reading ease score was 47.1 &#xb1; 5.6 (-&#x221e; to 49.7) and was < 80 (Cohen d effect size = -5.66), and the mean grade level score was 10.7 &#xb1; 1.2 (10.1 to &#x221e;) and was > 6 (d = 3.67). For CCLR recovery instructions, the mean reading ease score was 49.1 &#xb1; 9.5 (-&#x221e; to 53.6) and was < 80 (d = -3.15), and the mean grade level score was 10.0 &#xb1; 1.7 (9.2 to &#x221e;) was > the sixth grade (d = 2.31). CONCLUSIONS: Online information about the CCLR management and recovery is written at a level unlikely to be understood by a broad segment of the US population. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Veterinarians should simplify wording of medical communications related to CCLR management.