Assessing the Quality of Online Health Information and Trend Data for Colorectal Malignancies

Beauharnais, Catherine C.; Aulet, Tess; Rodriguez-Silva, Jetsen; Konen, John R.; Sturrock, Paul R.; Alavi, Karim; Maykel, Justin A.; Davids, Jennifer S.

doi:10.1016/j.jss.2022.10.055

Cited by 4 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…This correlation was very weak ( R 2 = 0.189). Although it is contrary to results within other specialties [ 14 , 18 ], it can reasonably be assumed that greater quantity is related to worse readability.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

“…Scientific articles, videos, personal blogs, online forums, and advertisements were also excluded. Websites that primarily advertised a particular drug, medical facility, or doctor and did not emphasize patient education were classified as advertisements [ 14 , 18 ]. Articles released by regulatory bodies, dedicated to physicians or medical professionals, related to veterinary medicine or alternative medicine were omitted from the analysis.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A recent study emphasized that English-speaking patients are utilizing the Internet to gain knowledge about their medical concerns and treatment options, underscored the accessibility, user-friendly interface, and low cost of online health information [ 14 ]. In the English-speaking world, the Internet is widely recognized as a trustworthy source of health information [ 14 ]. Individuals from these nations utilize online resources to enhance their own understanding and expand their expertise [ 14 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the English-speaking world, the Internet is widely recognized as a trustworthy source of health information [ 14 ]. Individuals from these nations utilize online resources to enhance their own understanding and expand their expertise [ 14 ]. The desire for self-education through online materials was strong among Anglophone patients [ 15 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Readability of Patient Electronic Materials for Atopic Dermatitis in 23 Languages: Analysis and Implications for Dermatologists

Skrzypczak,

Szepietowski

2024

Dermatol Ther (Heidelb)

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Introduction Patients search on the Internet for information about various medical procedures and conditions. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the readability of online health information related to atopic dermatitis (AD). Online resources are becoming a standard in facilitating shared decision-making processes. With a pipeline of new therapeutic options like immunomodulators, understanding of the complexity of AD by the patients is crucial. Methods The term “atopic dermatitis” translated into 23 official European Union languages was searched using the Google search engine. The first 50 records in each language were evaluated for suitability. Included materials were barrier-free, focused on patient education, and were not categorized as advertisements. Article sources were classified into four categories: non-profit, online shops, pharmaceutical companies, and dermatology clinic. Readability was assessed with Lix score. Results A total of 615 articles in Swedish, Spanish, Slovenian, Slovak, Romanian, Portuguese, Polish, Lithuanian, Latvian, Irish, Italian, Hungarian, Greek, German, French, Finnish, Estonian, English, Dutch, Danish, Czech, Croatian, and Bulgarian were evaluated. The overall mean Lix score was 56 ± 8, which classified articles as very hard to comprehend. Significant differences in mean Lix scores were observed across all included languages (all P < 0.001). Articles released by non-profit organizations and pharmaceutical companies had the highest readability ( P < 0.001). Low readability level was correlated with high article prevalence ( R 2 = 0.189, P = 0.031). Conclusions Although there was an abundance of online articles related to AD, the readability of the available information was low. As online health information has become essential in making shared decisions between patients and physicians, an improvement in AD-related materials is needed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Readability of Patient Electronic Materials for Atopic Dermatitis in 23 Languages: Analysis and Implications for Dermatologists

Skrzypczak,

Szepietowski

2024

Dermatol Ther (Heidelb)

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“…It was established through previous research that most internet users do not read past the initial 50 hits. [20][21][22][23] Articles related to HS, free to public and focused on patient education were included. Results that were not in the searched term's language, as well as those that required a password or were behind a paywall, were not included in the analysis.…”

Section: Search Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hidradenitis Suppurativa Online Documents Readability: An Analysis Including 23 European Languages

Skrzypczak,

Szepietowski

2024

CCID

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Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a complex disease with the vast burden to patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate readability of online electronic materials dedicated to HS. Patients and Methods: The terms "hidradenitis suppurativa" and "acne inversa" translated into 23 official European Union languages were searched with Google. For each language, first 50 results were assessed for suitability. Included materials were focused on patient's education, had no barriers and were not advertisements. If both terms generated the same results, duplicated materials were excluded from the analysis. Origin of the article was categorized into non-profit, online-shop, dermatology clinic or pharmaceutical company class. Readability was evaluated with Lix score. Results: A total of 458 articles in 22 languages were evaluated. The overall mean Lix score was 57 ± 9. This classified included articles as very hard to comprehend. Across all included languages significant differences in Lix score were revealed (P < 0.001). No significant differences across all origin categories and Lix scores were observed (all P > 0.05). Conclusion:Despite the coverage of HS on the Internet, its complexity made it hard to comprehend. Dermatologist should ensure readable, barrier-free online educational materials. With adequate Google promotion, these would be beneficial for both physicians and patients.

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Assessing the Readability of Online Health Information for Colonoscopy — Analysis of Articles in 22 European Languages

Skrzypczak

Mamak²

2023

J Canc Educ

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Patients often search on the Internet information about different medical conditions and procedures. This study aimed to evaluate online health information on colonoscopy, focusing on quantity and comprehensibility of internet resources dedicated to the colonoscopy. This information could be used by European Union (EU) colorectal cancer (CRC) screening providers to address patient’s unfilled educational needs, fear of colonoscopy, and other barriers that deter from CRC screening. The term “colonoscopy” translated into 22 official EU languages was searched using the Google search engine. For each translation, generated list of websites was assessed with Google Translate. The first 50 websites in each language were assessed for suitability. Records in other languages were excluded. Included websites were free, focused on patient education, and did not have password. Readability assessments were performed with Lix score. A total of 588 websites in Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, and Swedish were evaluated. The overall mean Lix score was 56 ± 8 and was classified as very hard to comprehend. There were significant differences in mean Lix scores across the included languages (P<.001). There was not significant correlation (R2 = 0.1, P = 0.142) between Lix score and number of search hits. Although there was a wealth of online patient information on colonoscopy, the comprehensibility of the available information is low. Physician guidance to reliable resources could increase patient’s willingness to undergo a screening colonoscopy.

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Assessing the Quality of Online Health Information and Trend Data for Colorectal Malignancies

Cited by 4 publications

References 17 publications

Readability of Patient Electronic Materials for Atopic Dermatitis in 23 Languages: Analysis and Implications for Dermatologists

Readability of Patient Electronic Materials for Atopic Dermatitis in 23 Languages: Analysis and Implications for Dermatologists

Hidradenitis Suppurativa Online Documents Readability: An Analysis Including 23 European Languages

Assessing the Readability of Online Health Information for Colonoscopy — Analysis of Articles in 22 European Languages

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