scholarly journals ASSESSING THE ACCURACY, QUALITY, AND READABILITY OF ONLINE PATIENT RESOURCES ON TARSAL COALITION

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7_suppl3) ◽  
pp. 2325967121S0003
Author(s):  
Hui Zhang ◽  
Brian K. Foster ◽  
Mark A. Seeley
Keyword(s):  
Private Practice ◽  
The United States ◽  
Reading Level ◽  
Professional Organization ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Tarsal Coalition ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Flesch Reading Ease ◽  
Patient Resources ◽  
Average Reader

Background: The internet is an inexpensive and convenient source for health information. However, without regulation, the quality and accuracy of the information is unknown. Tarsal coalition is a common cause of pediatric foot pain and disability. Hypothesis/Purpose: We hypothesized that the online patient information on tarsal coalition is of low accuracy, low quality, and of poor readability. Additionally, we hypothesized that sources found on the first search page were of higher quality, greater accuracy, and more readable. Methods: A cross-sectional review of the internet was performed using the term “tarsal coalition” on the 3 most popular search engines. Unique sites were categorized based on authorship and search result order. Websites were evaluated using a novel content score based on the AAOS OrthoInfo site on tarsal coalition (max score: 20), JAMA Benchmark and DISCERN scores for quality, and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) for readability. Results: A total of 47 unique websites were evaluated. They ranged from professional organization/society websites to websites for individual practices and professional blogs. The average content score was 13.1 (range: 4-20). The average DISCERN score was 34.2 (range: 19-57.5). We did find a positive correlation between the content score and DISCERN scores of the included resources (p=0.04). The average 11.4 (range 8.5-15.5). Only 2 of the websites (4%) were written at or below an 8th grade reading level, which has been documented as the average reading level of the general population in the United States. Websites that were authored by physicians had greater DISCERN and readability scores compared to academic and private practice websites (DISCERN 40.4 vs 32.3 (p=0.001) and 31.7 (p=0.01), respectively, FKGL 13.0 vs 10.4 (p=0.002) and 11.1 (p=0.03), respectively, FRE 31.5 vs 48.7 (p=0.0001) and 45.2 (p=0.025), respectively). Finally, we noted that websites which appeared on the first page of the search engine results were not of higher quality than those that appeared on later pages (DISCERN 32.6 vs 39.8, p=0.002). Conclusions: Online patient resources on tarsal coalition are of low quality, inaccurate, and too complex for the average reader. Physician authored websites may serve as better resources compared to academic or private practice sites. Physicians should caution patients using the internet for information on tarsal coalition.

Sources of Information About Gestational Weight Gain, Diet, and Exercise Among Brazilian Immigrant Women Living in the United States: A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-41
Author(s):  
Ana Cristina Lindsay ◽  
Qun Le ◽  
Denise Lima Nogueira ◽  
Márcia M. T. Machado ◽  
Mary L. Greaney
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Gestational Weight Gain ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Gestational Weight ◽  
Diet And Exercise ◽  
First Time

Abstract Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess sources of information about gestational weight gain (GWG), diet, and exercise among first-time pregnant Brazilian women in the United States (US). Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: Massachusetts, United States. Participants: First-time pregnant Brazilian women. Results: Eighty-six women, the majority of whom were immigrants (96.5%) classified as having low-acculturation levels (68%), participated in the study. Approximately two-thirds of respondents had sought information about GWG (72.1%), diet (79.1%), and exercise (74.4%) via the internet. Women classified as having low acculturation levels were more likely to seek information about GWG via the internet (OR = 7.55; 95% CI: 1.41, 40.26) than those with high acculturation levels after adjusting for age and receiving information about GWG from healthcare provider (doctor or midwife). Moreover, many respondents reported seeking information about GWG (67%), diet (71%), and exercise (52%) from family and friends. Women who self-identified as being overweight pre-pregnancy were less likely to seek information about diet (OR = 0.32; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.93) and exercise (OR = 0.33; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.96) from family and friends than those who self-identified being normal weight pre-pregnancy. Conclusions: This is the first study to assess sources of information about GWG, diet, and exercise among pregnant Brazilian immigrants in the US. Findings have implications for the design of interventions and suggest the potential of mHealth intervention as low-cost, easy access option for delivering culturally and linguistically tailored evidence-based information about GWG incorporating behavioral change practices to this growing immigrant group.

Readability of Online Health Information: A Meta-Narrative Systematic Review

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 487-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lubna Daraz ◽  
Allison S. Morrow ◽  
Oscar J. Ponce ◽  
Wigdan Farah ◽  
Abdulrahman Katabi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Grade Level ◽  
General Public ◽  
Sixth Grade ◽  
The United States ◽  
Reading Level ◽  
Online Health Information ◽  
Cross Sectional

Online health information should meet the reading level for the general public (set at sixth-grade level). Readability is a key requirement for information to be helpful and improve quality of care. The authors conducted a systematic review to evaluate the readability of online health information in the United States and Canada. Out of 3743 references, the authors included 157 cross-sectional studies evaluating 7891 websites using 13 readability scales. The mean readability grade level across websites ranged from grade 10 to 15 based on the different scales. Stratification by specialty, health condition, and type of organization producing information revealed the same findings. In conclusion, online health information in the United States and Canada has a readability level that is inappropriate for general public use. Poor readability can lead to misinformation and may have a detrimental effect on health. Efforts are needed to improve readability and the content of online health information.

Measuring Text Readability Using Reading Level

2019 ◽  
pp. 93-103
Author(s):  
James C. Brewer
Keyword(s):  
Grade Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
Reading Level ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Web Pages ◽  
Wide Audience ◽  
Reading Grade Level ◽  
Text Readability ◽  
Worldwide Phenomenon ◽  
The Military

Reading grade level calculations have been in use for over a century in the United States and have guided the selection of texts used in school programs. Government agencies at all levels, the military in its various branches, and editors of publications have found such formulas of use in setting policy or determining who can participate in programs. As readership is now a worldwide phenomenon with English as the primary language of the internet, reading grade level calculations can also be useful in creating web pages and assigning reading texts to large multi-user classes (MOOCs) run over the internet. In this regard, it is possible for faculty to be assured that the material is reachable to a wide audience by checking reading grade level and providing additional guidance for the more difficult items in the form of discussion or focused questions. Authors can use the formulas as a tool to check the quality of their own writing and improve sections which are unnecessarily complex.

scholarly journals An Analysis of the Readability of Educational Materials on the Consumer Webpage of a Health Professional Organization: Considerations for Practice

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naudia Falconer ◽  
E. Reicherter ◽  
Barbara Billek-Sawhney ◽  
Steven Chesbro
Keyword(s):  
Patient Education ◽  
Health Professional ◽  
Grade Level ◽  
Sixth Grade ◽  
Reading Level ◽  
Professional Organization ◽  
Flesch Reading Ease ◽  
Ease Score ◽  
Site Evaluation ◽  
American Physical

The readability level of many patient education materials is too high for patients to comprehend, placing the patient’s health at risk. Since health professionals often recommend Internet-based patient education resources, they must ensure that the readability of information provided to consumers is at an appropriate level. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the readability of educational brochures found on the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) consumer website. Methods: Fourteen educational brochures on the APTA website in March 2008 were analyzed using the following assessments: Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Flesch Reading Ease, Fry Readability Formula, Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), Checklist for Patient Education Materials, and Consumer Health Web Site Evaluation Checklist. Results: According to the Flesch-Kincaid and Flesch Reading Ease, over 90% of the brochures were written at greater than a sixth grade level. The mean reading level was grade 10.2 (range = 3.1 to 12) with a Reading Ease score between 31.5 to 79.9. Using the SMOG formula, the brochures had a mean reading level of grade 11.5 (range = 9 to 13). The Fry Readability showed that 85% of the brochures were written higher than a sixth grade level, with a mean reading level of grade 9.5 (range = 6 to 14). Conclusion: Findings suggest that most of the consumer education information available on the website of this health professional organization had readability scores that were too high for average consumers to read.

scholarly journals Assessment of quality of information available over the internet about vegan diet

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 1142-1152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivia Genevieve El Jassar ◽  
Isobel Nadia El Jassar ◽  
Evangelos I. Kritsotakis
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Vegan Diet ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Quality Of Information ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Flesch Reading Ease ◽  
Written Information

Purpose This paper aims to assess the quality of health information available to patients seeking online advice about the vegan diet. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional sample of patient-oriented websites was selected by searching for “Vegan diet” in the three most popular search engines. The first 50 websites from each search were examined. Quality of information was assessed using the DISCERN instrument, a questionnaire tool designed to judge the quality of written information on treatment choices. Readability was determined with the Flesch Reading Ease score (FRES) and Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL). Relevance to health and disease was assessed by counting the appearances of ten related keywords, generated by searching the query term “Vegan diet” into PubMed and recording the top ten health-related words. Findings Of 150 websites retrieved, 67 (44.7 per cent) met inclusion criteria. Of these, 42 (62.7 per cent) were non-pharmaceutical commercial, 7 (10.4 per cent) institutional, 6 (9.0 per cent) magazines or newspapers, 4 (6.0 per cent) support websites, 4 (6.0 per cent) charitable websites, 2 (3.0 per cent) encyclopedias and 2 (3.0 per cent) personal blogs. The overall DISCERN rating of the websites was fair (mean 41.6 ± 15.4 on an 80-point scale), but nearly half (31/67) of the websites were assessed as having “poor” or “very poor” quality of information. FRES and FKGL readability indices met the recommended standards on average (means 63.3 ± 9.6 and 6.6 ± 1.7, respectively), but did not correlate with high DISCERN ratings. Analysis of variance on DISCERN scores (F(6,60) = 6.536, p < 0.001) and FRES (F(6,60) = 2.733, p = 0.021) yielded significant variation according to website source type. Originality/value Quality standards of health information available on the internet about the vegan diet vary greatly. Patients are at risk of exposure to low quality and potentially misleading information over the internet and should be consulting dietitians or physicians to avoid being misled.

Cleft and Craniofacial Team Orthodontic Care in the United States: A Survey of the ACPA

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (7) ◽  
pp. 860-866 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nima Khavanin ◽  
Hillary Jenny ◽  
Diana S. Jodeh ◽  
Michelle A. Scott ◽  
S. Alex Rottgers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Private Practice ◽  
Skeletal Maturity ◽  
Care Service ◽  
The United States ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
High Level

Objective: To better understand the capacity for orthodontic care, service features, and finances among members of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA). Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: ACPA-approved multidisciplinary cleft teams. Participants: Cleft team coordinators. Interventions: Coordinators were asked to complete the survey working together with their orthodontists. Main Outcome Measure: Model for orthodontic care. Results: Coordinators from 82 out of 167 teams certified by ACPA completed the survey (response rate = 49.1%). Most orthodontists were private practice volunteers (48%) followed by university/hospital employed (22.8%). Care was often delivered in community private practice facilities (44.2%) or combination of university and private practice facilities (39.0%). Half of teams reported offering presurgical infant orthopedics (PSIO), with nasoalveolar molding being the most common. Cleft/craniofacial patients typically comprise 25% or less of the orthodontists’ practices. The presence of a university/hospital-based orthodontist was associated with higher rates of offering PSIO ( P < .001) and an increased percentage dedication of their practice to cleft/craniofacial care ( P < .001). Conclusion: Orthodontic models across ACPA-certified teams are highly varied. The employment of full-time craniofacial orthodontists is less common but is highly correlated with a practice with a high percentage of cleft care and the offering of advanced services such as PSIO. Future work should focus on how to effectively promote such roles for orthodontists to ensure high-level care for cleft/craniofacial patients requiring treatment from infancy through skeletal maturity.

A QUEST Quality and Readability Analysis of COVID-19 Health Information on Google: A Cross-Sectional Analysis (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vismaya Bachu ◽  
Heba Mahjoub ◽  
Albert Holler ◽  
Tudor Crihalmeanu ◽  
Dheevena Bachu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
State Government ◽  
The United States ◽  
Reading Level ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Grade Levels ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Scoring Tool ◽  
Sectional Analysis

BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic spurred an increase of online information regarding disease spread and symptomatology. OBJECTIVE Our purpose was to systematically assessed the quality and readability of articles resulting from frequently Google-searched COVID-19 terms in the United States. METHODS We utilized Google Trends to determine the 25 most commonly searched health-related phrases between 2/29/20 and 4/30/20. The first 30 search results for each term were collected, and articles were analyzed using Quality Evaluation Scoring Tool (QUEST). Three raters scored each article in authorship, attribution, conflict of interest, currency, complementarity, and tone. RESULTS A readability analysis was conducted. Exactly 709 articles were screened, and 195 fulfilled inclusion criteria. The mean article score was 18.9 ± 2.9 out of 28 with 7% scoring in the top quartile. National news outlets published the largest share (36%) of articles. Peer-reviewed journals attained the highest average QUEST score compared to national/regional news outlets, national/state government sites, and global health organizations (all p < 0.05). The average reading level was 11.7 ± 1.9 (range 5.4 to 16.9). Only 3 (1.6%) articles were written at the recommended 6th grade levels. CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 related articles are vastly varied in their attributes and levels of bias and would benefit from revisions for increased readability. CLINICALTRIAL n/a

scholarly journals Assessment of the Readability, Adequacy, and Suitability of Online Patient Education Resources for Benign Vascular Tumours Using the DISCERN Instrument

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-333
Author(s):  
Minh N.Q. Huynh ◽  
Katie E. Hicks ◽  
Claudia Malic
Keyword(s):  
Patient Education ◽  
Web Search ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Online Resources ◽  
College Level ◽  
Flesch Reading Ease ◽  
Ovid Medline ◽  
Patient Resources ◽  
Average Reader ◽  
Language Of Publication

Objective: This study aims to assess the quality and readability of Internet-based patient resources for vascular tumours in order to understand which areas require improvement. Methods: A World Wide Web search was performed, in addition to a literature review using PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and EMBASE. Any material that contained information on vascular tumours pertaining to patient education was included. We evaluated resources with DISCERN and Flesch Reading Ease scores when applicable. The language of publication was restricted to English and French. This review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42018087885). Results: A total of 117 online resources were screened, with 73 resources included in the final analysis. The overall DISCERN rating for the patient resources was 1.8 (0.8). The majority of online resources failed to depict the entire spectrum of benign vascular tumours. The mean Flesch score was 36 (19), which translates to a college-level readability. Conclusion: The majority of resources were not adequate or comprehensive and were written at a much higher level than the average reader would be expected to comprehend.

scholarly journals General and Health-Related Internet Use Among Cancer Survivors in the United States: A 2013–2018 Cross-Sectional Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 1468-1475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Christopher Dee ◽  
Vinayak Muralidhar ◽  
Santino S. Butler ◽  
Zizi Yu ◽  
Sybil T. Sha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Higher Educational Attainment

Background: A significant proportion of cancer survivors endorse ongoing health information needs and may use the internet to access information. We assessed patterns and predictors of general and health-specific internet use among cancer survivors. Methods: Using data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), which was administered in 2013 through 2018, for adults reporting a cancer diagnosis, sample weight-adjusted estimates defined prevalence and multivariable logistic regressions defined adjusted odds ratios (aORs) of general and health-specific internet use, adjusting for relevant sociodemographic covariates, including healthcare satisfaction as the primary independent variable. The analysis for health-specific internet use was also repeated including a sex (female vs male)*healthcare satisfaction (very satisfied/somewhat satisfied vs somewhat dissatisfied/very dissatisfied) interaction term. Results: Among 12,970 survivors of cancer, general and health-specific internet use increased from 2013 to 2018 (from 63.2% to 70.8% and from 46.8% to 52.2%, respectively; P<.05 for both). Survivors who were very dissatisfied with healthcare were more likely to use the internet for health information compared with those who were very satisfied (59.5% vs 48.0%; aOR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.20–2.64; P=.004). Younger age, female sex, higher educational attainment, and higher socioeconomic status were all associated with increased reported use of the internet for both general and health-specific purposes (P<.001 for all). There was a significant sex*healthcare satisfaction interaction (P=.009) such that for female survivors, healthcare dissatisfaction was associated with higher odds of health-specific internet use (61.4% vs 52.5%; P<.001; men, P=.97). No association was found between healthcare satisfaction and general internet use (P=.42). Conclusions: The increasing proportion of survivors of cancer using the internet for health-specific information may be associated with self-reported dissatisfaction with healthcare. Efforts are needed to improve both access to the internet and the quality of cancer-relevant online health information, and to enhance patients’ online health literacy.

scholarly journals Burnout and secondary traumatic stress in health-system pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam M Jones ◽  
John S Clark ◽  
Rima A Mohammad
Keyword(s):  
Health System ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
High Probability ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Compassion Satisfaction ◽  
The United States ◽  
Professional Organization ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Quality Of Life Scale

Abstract Purpose To describe the prevalence of burnout and secondary traumatic stress (STS) in health-system pharmacists during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods. A cross-sectional, professional pharmacy organization listserver–based online survey of a target group of health-system pharmacists across the United States was conducted. The survey was sent out through professional organization listservers and was anonymous and voluntary. The survey questionnaire included items regarding demographics and employment characteristics, COVID-19–related questions, a survey of respondents’ perceptions of the prevalence and severity of burnout, and the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL). The ProQOL assessed respondents for compassion satisfaction (subcategorized as burnout and STS) and compassion fatigue. Descriptive statistics was used to assess the prevalence of burnout and STS. Results Four hundred eighty-four health-system pharmacists completed the survey. Based on respondents’ self-ratings of burnout, 47% were identified as having current burnout and 81% as having a history of burnout. Based on ProQOL scoring, 65.3% of respondents were identified as having a moderate or high likelihood of burnout, which was a prevalence higher than that indicated by respondents’ self-ratings. Additionally, 51.4% of respondents were identified as having a moderate or high probability of STS and 99.4% as having a moderate or high probability of compassion satisfaction. Conclusion The survey found that over half of health-system pharmacists were affected with burnout, half with STS, and three-fourths with compassion satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, the development of burnout and STS in these health-system pharmacists may lead to several work-related consequences (eg, increase risk of medical errors, depression); therefore, addressing burnout and STS is crucial. Further studies of the consequences of burnout and STS during the COVID-19 pandemic are needed.

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