Glioblastoma: assessment of the readability and reliability of online information

Ahmadi, Omid; Louw, Jacqueline; Leinonen, Heta; Gan, Peter

doi:10.1080/02688697.2021.1905772

Cited by 10 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Yet, we could show that HONcode certified websites received better quality, readability and popularity scores. This is similar to other studies looking at HONcode certification of cancer information websites 21,30,31 …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…The Flesch Reading Ease score and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level incorporate the number of syllables, words and sentences, while the Automated Readability Index considers characters instead of syllables. The Flesch Reading Ease score results in a total score expressing the readability of a text ranging from very confusing (0-29), difficult (30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(48)(49), fairly difficult (50-59), standard (60-69), fairly easy (70-79), easy (80-89), to very easy (90-100). The Automated Readability Index and the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level are based on US grade levels and express the years of school education necessary to understand the information.…”

Section: Readabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploring the most visible websites on cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma—revealing limited quality of patient health information on the internet

Özistanbullu

Weber

Kleemann

et al. 2022

Acad Dermatol Venereol

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Background Patients diagnosed with cancer frequently search the Internet for health information. Yet, the quality of CTCL online information has not been investigated so far. Objectives The aim of this study was to identify and assess the most visible websites on CTCL. Methods An Internet search on the top three search engines Google, Yahoo and Bing was performed for the terms ‘cutaneous T‐cell‐lymphoma’, ‘mycosis fungoides’ and ‘Sézary syndrome’. After selecting the most frequented websites suitable for patients' information, we investigated content quality, readability and popularity. Eighty‐nine websites were evaluated for HONcode quality certification, social media popularity, Alexa popularity rank, topicality and readability levels. Furthermore, the websites' content on 13 major topics according to guidelines on CTCL was assessed. Results Twenty‐three (25.8%) websites were HONcode certified. Evaluated websites were difficult to read requiring at least 9 years of US school education to properly understand the information. More than half of all websites (57.3%) have not been updated for three or more years (or did not contain any update information). We found greatly varying quality and popularity of online patient information. Out of 1157 topics (equivalent to 13 different topics on 89 websites), 59.44% were mentioned on the websites. Of these, 40% contained incorrect or incomplete information. Publicly provided websites presented the different topics more thoroughly. We could further show that HONcode certified websites received better quality and readability scores. Conclusions We found major shortcomings regarding readability, completeness and reliability of websites on CTCL. Nevertheless, highly selected websites on CTCL can serve as a valuable and reliable source of patient information. As a consequence, oncologists have an obligation to be aware of and guide their patients to available websites that contain reliable and appropriate information.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Readabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the most visible websites on cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma—revealing limited quality of patient health information on the internet

Özistanbullu

Weber

Kleemann

et al. 2022

Acad Dermatol Venereol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Both the mean FRE and FKG levels demonstrated that the readability was significantly less than what is recommended in the literature (FRE greater than 60, FKG level of 5–6) 10–13 . Multiple previous studies have also demonstrated similar results when assessing online health information, including about Glioblastoma Multiforme, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Osteoporosis 22–26 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

“…[10][11][12][13] Multiple previous studies have also demonstrated similar results when assessing online health information, including about Glioblastoma Multiforme, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Osteoporosis. [22][23][24][25][26] There were, however, statistically significant differences in readability scores of the results when comparing results that were categorized as either patient health information or commercial and other websites. These differences were also noted when comparing results from the search term 'brain aneurysm' compared with 'intracranial aneurysm'.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of readability and reliability of online patient information for intracranial aneurysms

Patel

Kerr

Ahmadi

et al. 2021

ANZ Journal of Surgery

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Introduction: Intracranial aneurysms are common. Receiving this diagnosis can have a profound impact on patients and their families and this is compounded by the nuanced complexities around their management. An overwhelming majority of patients research health information using the internet. Patient-centred care and informed consent requires patients to have access to information that is readable and reliable. The aim of this study was to assess the readability and reliability of online health information about intracranial aneurysms. Method: A Google search was conducted using the terms 'brain aneurysm', 'cerebral aneurysm', and 'intracranial aneurysm' and the first 75 websites were screened for assessment. The readability of each website was assessed using the Flesch reading ease score (FRE), the Flesch-Kincaid grade level (FKGL), the gunning fog index (GFI) and the simple measure of gobbledygook (SMOG) indices. Reliability was assessed using the DISCERN instrument and the Journal of the American Medical Association benchmark criteria (JAMA). Results: Following exclusion, 36 websites were analyzed. The websites collectively scored as 'difficult' readability and 'poor' reliability on average. Statistically significant differences in readability were observed between websites categorized as patient health information and commercial compared with academic and physician. Differences in readability were also observed between search results of 'brain aneurysm' compared with 'intracranial aneurysm'. Conclusion:The readability and reliability of online health information about intracranial aneurysms is suboptimal. Health professionals must ensure their patients are well informed which includes directing them to high quality resources which are readable and reliable and use layperson-oriented language during the consultation. *P < 0.05. † Duplicate results were not omitted in this analysis.

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“…Indeed, this challenge is not unique to the information on CBE nor that of urology, it is endemic to all fields of medicine. Countless studies have been published evaluating the readability of patient education materials online across multiple specialties, and the trend for information to be above the recommended reading level is overwhelming (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Complicating the already complex? Readability scores in bladder exstrophy and its treatment

et al. 2022

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PurposeClassic bladder exstrophy (CBE), is a complex congenital malformation affecting formation of the lower abdominal wall and bladder. This study evaluates the readability of common online resources regarding CBE and its treatment. We hypothesize that high levels of reading comprehension are reflected in these resources, which may not be suitable to the general population for understanding this condition.MethodsThe search terms “bladder exstrophy” and “bladder exstrophy treatment” were reviewed on the Google search engine. The first 100 search results for each search query were collected. The readability of each webpage was assessed using a combination of four independent validated formulae: the Gunning-Fog index (GFI), SMOG grade (Simple Measure of Gobbledygook), Dale-Chall index (DCI), and the Flesch-Kincaid grade (FKG).ResultsA total of 200 search results were examined using the two search queries, yielding 72 unique webpages that fit the inclusionary criteria. The mean readability scores across all websites were a GFI of 14.3, SMOG score of 10, DCI of 9.06, and a FKG of 11.6. These scores correlate to adjusted grade levels of college sophomore, 11th grade, college, and 11th grade respectively. There was no significant difference of readability between website categories across GFI (p = 0.32), SMOG (p = 0.38), DCI (p = 0.33), and FKG (p = 0.36).ConclusionThis study demonstrates that online health information regarding CBE and its treatment is written at least the 11th grade reading level or above. This highlights the necessity to simplify online resources pertaining to CBE.

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Glioblastoma: assessment of the readability and reliability of online information

Cited by 10 publications

References 27 publications

Exploring the most visible websites on cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma—revealing limited quality of patient health information on the internet

Exploring the most visible websites on cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma—revealing limited quality of patient health information on the internet

Evaluation of readability and reliability of online patient information for intracranial aneurysms

Complicating the already complex? Readability scores in bladder exstrophy and its treatment

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