Evaluating Turkish Readability and Quality of Strabismus-Related Websites

Abstract

Background This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the readability of strabismus-related websites and the quality of their content. Methodology This cross-sectional study evaluated the websites on strabismus disease using Ateşman and Bezirci-Yilmaz’s readability formulas, which have been scientifically verified to be effective for Turkish people. The study picked texts from the first 50 websites that appeared on the screen after typing “strabismus treatment” into the Google search engine based on their Turkish reading level and information reliability. In this study, 41 of the first 50 websites were reviewed. Furthermore, two separate senior ophthalmologists evaluated the JAMA and DISCERN indexes, as well as the credibility of the content on these sites. Results The Bezirci-Yilmaz readability index indicated that the websites were readable for individuals with an average education level of 10.5 ± 2.3 years. The websites scored an average of 55.2 ± 7.9 on the Ateşman readability formula, indicating that they were readable for students in the 11-12th grade. The websites had an average JAMA score of 0.8 ± 0.7 points and a DISCERN score of 34.2 ± 8.6 points, indicating low-quality content. Conclusions The readability of websites providing information regarding strabismus was significantly higher than Turkey’s average educational level. Websites should not only be designed to be easy to read so that strabismus patients may learn about their condition but should also provide higher-quality strabismus content.