美国国立卫生研究院（NIH）建议患者教育材料反映美国人口的平均阅读年级水平。由于共享决策在乳腺癌手术中的重要性，本研究评估了国家癌症研究所指定癌症中心（NCI-DCC）的患者教育材料的阅读水平与顶级互联网搜索结果之间的差异。通过使用三种经过验证的可读性算法（Simplified Measure of Gobbledygook可读性公式、Coleman-Liau指数和Flesch-Kincaid年级水平），对NCI-DCC和互联网顶级搜索结果中关于乳腺癌、分期、手术选择以及术前和术后期望的在线材料进行了分析。平均可读性水平跨来源群体和信息子类别使用未配对t检验进行比较，统计学显著性设置为p < 0.05。平均可读性水平使用单因素方差分析进行比较。NCI-DCC和互联网群体的平均可读性得分范围从9级至12级，显著高于NIH推荐的6至7年级的阅读水平。两个来源之间的阅读水平没有显著差异。两个来源的“手术选择”在实际和推荐阅读水平之间的差异最为明显，都达到10至12年级水平。来自NCI-DCC和顶级互联网搜索结果的乳腺癌患者教育材料的写作水平比NIH推荐的阅读水平高出数个年级。应修订这些材料以提高患者对乳腺癌手术治疗的理解，并在这一重要决策过程中指导患者，以最终改善健康结果。 © 2023年. 外科肿瘤学会。

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends patient education materials reflect the average reading grade level of the US population. Due to the importance of shared decision-making in breast cancer surgery, this study evaluates the reading level of patient education materials from National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers (NCI-DCC) compared with top Internet search results.Online materials from NCI-DCC and top Internet search results on breast cancer, staging, surgical options, and pre- and postoperative expectations were analyzed using three validated readability algorithms: Simplified Measure of Gobbledygook Readability Formula, Coleman-Liau index, and Flesch-Kincaid grade level. Mean readability was compared across source groups and information subcategories using an unpaired t-test with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Mean readability was compared using a one-way analysis of variance.Mean readability scores from NCI-DCC and Internet groups ranged from a 9th-12th grade level, significantly above the NIH recommended reading level of 6th-7th grade. There was no significant difference between reading levels from the two sources. The discrepancy between actual and recommended reading level was most pronounced for "surgical options" at a 10th-12th grade level from both sources.Patient education materials on breast cancer from both NCI-DCC and top Internet search results were written several reading grade levels higher than the NIH recommendation. Materials should be revised to enhance patient comprehension of breast cancer surgical treatment and guide patients in this important decision-making process to ultimately improve health outcomes.© 2023. Society of Surgical Oncology.