Objective: Internet-based patient education materials (PEMs) are often above the recommended sixth grade reading level recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In 2016 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a warning statement against use of general anesthetic drugs in children and pregnant women due to concerns about neurotoxicity. The aim of this study is to evaluate readability, content, and quality of Internet-based PEMs on anesthesia in the pediatric population and neurotoxicity.
Study Design: The websites of U.S. medical centers with pediatric anesthesiology fellowship programs were searched for PEMs pertaining to pediatric anesthesia and neurotoxicity. Readability was assessed. PEM content was evaluated using matrices specific to pediatric anesthesia and neurotoxicity. PEM quality was assessed with the Patient Education Material Assessment Tool for Print. A one-sample -test was used to compare the readability of the PEMs to the recommended sixth grade reading level.
Results: We identified 27 PEMs pertaining to pediatric anesthesia and eight to neurotoxicity. Mean readability of all PEMs was greater than a sixth grade reading ( <0.001). While only 13% of PEMs on anesthesia for pediatric patient mentioned the FDA warning, 100% of the neurotoxicity materials did. PEMs had good understandability (83%) and poor actionability (60%).
Conclusion: The readability, content, and quality of PEMs are poor and should be improved to help parents and guardians make informed decisions about their children's health care.
Key Points: · The FDA issued a warning statement against the use of general anesthetic drugs in children and pregnant women.. · Readability, content, and quality of Internet-based patient education materials on the topic of neurotoxicity are poor.. · Improving the readability, content, and quality of PEMs could aid parents in making important health care decisions..
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-1754408 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Neuroprotective potential of isofraxidin: Alleviating parkinsonian symptoms, inflammation and microglial activation.
J Cent Nerv Syst Dis
January 2025
School of Pharmacy, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders. Previous research has confirmed that isofraxidin can reduce macrophage expression and inhibit peripheral inflammation. However, its effects on the central nervous system remain underexplored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMaternal exposure to general anesthesia and labor epidural analgesia during pregnancy and delivery, and subsequent neurodevelopmental outcomes in children.
Int J Obstet Anesth
December 2024
Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address:
Comprehensive Analysis of Bulk RNA-Seq and Single-Cell RNA-Seq Data Unveils Sevoflurane-Induced Neurotoxicity Through SLC7A11-Associated Ferroptosis.
J Cell Mol Med
December 2024
Department of Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, P. R. China.
Sevoflurane's potential impact on cognitive function and neurodevelopment, especially in susceptible populations such as infants and the elderly, has raised widespread concern. This study focuses on how sevoflurane induces ferroptosis in astrocytes and identifies solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) as a mediator of ferroptosis, providing new insights into sevoflurane-related neurotoxic pathways. We analysed single-cell sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from sevoflurane-exposed mice and control mice, supplemented with bulk RNA-seq data, to assess gene expression alterations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF"This is how we do it" Maternal and fetal anesthetic management for fetoscopic myelomeningocele repairs: the Texas Children's Fetal Center protocol.
Int J Obstet Anesth
December 2024
Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, United States. Electronic address:
Prenatal repair of myelomeningocele (MMC) is associated with lower rates of hydrocephalus requiring ventriculoperitoneal shunt and improved motor function when compared with postnatal repair. Efforts aiming to develop less invasive surgical techniques to decrease the risk for the pregnant patient while achieving similar benefits for the fetus have led to the implementation of fetoscopic surgical techniques. While no ideal anesthetic technique for fetoscopic MMC repair has been demonstrated, we present our anesthetic approach for these repairs, including considerations for both the pregnant patient and the fetus.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEssential role of sulfide oxidation in brain health and neurological disorders.
Pharmacol Ther
February 2025
Anesthesia Center for Critical Care Research, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA. Electronic address:
Hydrogen sulfide (HS) is an environmental hazard well known for its neurotoxicity. In mammalian cells, HS is predominantly generated by transsulfuration pathway enzymes. In addition, HS produced by gut microbiome significantly contributes to the total sulfide burden in the body.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!