scholarly journals Quality and readability of web-based Arabic health information on periodontal disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Sultan Al-Ak’hali ◽  
Hytham N. Fageeh ◽  
Esam Halboub ◽  
Mohammed Nasser Alhajj ◽  
Zaihan Ariffin
Keyword(s):  
Periodontal Disease ◽  
Health Professional ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Code Of Conduct ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Quality Information ◽  
Quality Of Information ◽  
Web Based ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Background Currently, the Internet seems to be a helpful tool for obtaining information about everything that we think about, including diseases, their prevention and treatment approaches. However, doubts exist regarding the quality and readability of such information. This study sought to assess the quality and readability of web-based Arabic information on periodontal disease. Methods In this infodemiological study, the Google, Yahoo!, and Bing search engines were searched using specific Arabic terms on periodontal disease. The first 100 consecutive websites from each engine were obtained. The eligible websites were categorized as commercial, health/professional, journalism, and other. The following tools were applied to assess the quality of the information on the included websites: the Health on the Net Foundation Code of Conduct (HONcode), the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmarks, and the DISCERN tool. The readability was assessed using an online readability tool. Results Of the 300 websites, 89 were eligible for quality and readability analyses. Only two websites (2.3%) were HONcode certified. Based on the DISCERN tool, 43 (48.3%) websites had low scores. The mean score of the JAMA benchmarks was 1.6 ± 1.0, but only 3 (3.4%) websites achieved “yes” responses for all four JAMA criteria. Based on the DISCERN tool, health/professional websites revealed the highest quality of information compared to other website categories. Most of the health/professional websites revealed moderate-quality information, while 55% of the commercial websites, 66% of journalism websites, and 43% of other websites showed poor quality information. Regarding readability, most of the analyzed websites presented simple and readable written content. Conclusions Aside from readable content, Arabic health information on the analyzed websites on periodontal disease is below the required level of quality.

scholarly journals Quality and readability of web-based Arabic health information on COVID-19: Infodemiology study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esam Halboub ◽  
Mohammed Sultan Al-Akhali ◽  
Hesham M Al-Mekhlafi ◽  
Mohammed Nasser Alhajj
Keyword(s):  
American Medical Association ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Grade Level ◽  
Code Of Conduct ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Flesch Reading Ease ◽  
Grade Levels ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Web

Abstract Objective: The study sought to assess the quality and readability of the web-based Arabic health information on COVID-19. Methods: Selected search engines were searched on 13 April 2020 for specific Arabic terms on COVID-19. The first 100 consecutive websites from each engine were obtained. The quality of the websites was analyzed using the Health on the Net Foundation Code of Conduct (HONcode), the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmarks, and the DISCERN benchmarks instrument. The readability was assessed using an online readability calculator tool. Results: Overall, 36 websites were found eligible for quality and readability analyses. Only one website (2.7%) was HONcode certified. No single website attained a high score based on the DISCERN tool; the mean score of all websites was 31.5±12.55. Regarding JAMA benchmarks, a mean score of 2.08±1.05 was achieved by the websites; however, only 4 (11.1%) websites achieved all JAMA criteria. The average grade levels for readability were 7.2±7.5, 3.3±0.6 and 93.5±19.4 for Flesch Kincaid Grade level, SMOG, Flesch Reading Ease, respectively. Conclusion: Most of the available web-based Arabic health information on COVID-19 doesn’t have the required level of quality, irrespective of being easy to read and understand by most of the general people.

scholarly journals Methods for evaluating the quality of information on health websites: Systematic Review (2001-2014)

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 994-1056
Author(s):  
Rodolfo Paolucci ◽  
André Pereira Neto
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Evaluation Criteria ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Methodological Framework ◽  
Quality Of Information ◽  
Information Updating

The Internet is a major source of health information, but the poor quality of the information has been criticized for decades. We looked at methods for assessing the quality of health information, updating the findings of the first systematic review from 2002. We searched 9 Health Sciences, Information Sciences, and multidisciplinary databases for studies. We identified 7,718 studies and included 299. Annual publications increased from 9 (2001) to 53 (2013), with 89% from developed countries. We identified 20 areas of knowledge. Six tools have been used worldwide, but 43% of the studies did not use any of them. The methodological framework of criteria from the first review has been the same. The authors were the evaluators in 80% of the studies. This field of evaluation is expanding. No instrument simultaneously covers the evaluation criteria. There is still a need for a methodology involving experts and users and evidence-based indicators of accuracy.

scholarly journals A credibility assessment of online breast cancer information

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Abarca-Cuming
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Code Of Conduct ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
Cancer Information ◽  
Digital Environment ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Written Information ◽  
Health Market

The rapid expansion of the Internet and changes in the health market are giving rise to the emergence of web-based tools for seeking health information. As a result, the Web empowers consumers by allowing them to access important medical information that has traditionally been mediated through healthcare professionals. Along with this growing trend comes the challenge of establishing credibility in a digital environment saturated with health information. One way to begin addressing this challenge is to assess the projection of credibility of health information found online. The purpose of this paper is twofold. Firstly, to develop a better understanding of how projections of credibility might differ between traditional and non-traditional online health sources. The former defined as websites belonging to formal and conventional institutions and the latter defined as informal and unconventional organizations. Secondly, to develop some strategic approaches that might be employed to enhance perceptions of online credibility. This paper conducts a content analysis using the Health on the Net Foundation’s Code of Conduct for medical and health websites and DISCERN, an instrument that assesses the quality of written information about treatment choices (DISCERN, 2012).

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.

Information environment of official statistics

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 32-45
Author(s):  
Józef Oleński
Keyword(s):  
Social Life ◽  
Statistical Data ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Information Environment ◽  
The Political ◽  
Quality Information ◽  
Official Statistics ◽  
Quality Of Information ◽  
It Systems

The aim of the paper is to examine the influence of the information environment of a society or economy on public statistics, as well as demonstrating how official statistics can affect the quality of information environments of modern societies and economies in the context of global technologies and IT systems. In modern information societies and knowledge-based economies, the quality of information environments in which citizens, economic entities, public administration institutions and international organisations are functioning has a decisive influence on the political, social and economic order. These environments are shaped by interest groups which control information systems and processes at the local, national, international and global levels. The above-mentioned groups take advantage of the fundamental law of information, i.e. that poor quality information overrides good quality information, to eliminate any information that could make it more difficult for them to control the behavior of people, including social groups, and entities created by people, which participate in the political and economic processes. The paper examines the effects the contamination of the social information environment has on the political and social life and the economy. Attention has been drawn to the influence of the quality of information environment on official statistics and the perception of statistical data, as well as to using reliable statistical data to disinform and contaminate social and economic information environments by manipulating these data. The paper also shows how public statistics can influence information environments and its significance for the safety of the general public.

scholarly journals Quality of the Italian Websites for Parental Guidance on the Indications for Tonsillectomy in Children

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camila de Castro Corrêa ◽  
Sofia Prata Piña ◽  
Melania Evangelisti ◽  
Maria Pia Villa ◽  
Silke Anna Theresa Weber
Keyword(s):  
Code Of Conduct ◽  
Invasive Procedure ◽  
Ethical Principles ◽  
Web Pages ◽  
Quality Of Information ◽  
Parental Guidance ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The One ◽  
Readability Level

Abstract Introduction The quality of information on websites about tonsillectomy regarding the knowledge level may be low. Tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure to hypertrophy of the palatine and pharyngeal tonsils. So, it is an invasive procedure with possible complications, which creates insecurity in parents. Significantly, Internet searches have been increased to address possible health concerns, questioning the quality of websites about tonsillectomy. Objective To evaluate the readability, reliability, and comprehensiveness of the Italian websites dedicated to parental guidance regarding the indications for tonsillectomy in children. Methods The search engine google.it was used to search the websites. The Gulpease index, which is a widely used readability formula ranging from 0 (difficult) to 100 (easy readability), was employed to evaluate these websites. The Health on the Net Code of Conduct (HONcode) was used to assess the quality of information, by taking ethical principles into account, with values ranging from 0 to 13. The content comprehensiveness of the web pages was assessed by assigning points ranging from 1 (very insufficient) to 5 (very satisfying) to each page. A final comparison with previous studies on tonsillectomy published on websites from other countries was performed. Results Fourteen Italian websites were selected, and the Gulpease index showed a mean average of 40.77 ± 8.45. The mean of the HONcode analysis was 6.00 ± 1.92, in which the principles with the poorest scores were Attribution and Update. As far as the comprehensiveness of the websites is concerned, the resulting mean was 2.57 ± 0.77, in which Indications was the topic with the highest mean, whereas Benefits was the one with the lowest. Conclusion The Italian websites were characterized by a lower readability level, a middle position regarding ethical principles, and the same (insufficient) comprehensiveness of tonsillectomy when compared with websites from different countries.

scholarly journals Assessing the quality of information provided on websites selling Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) to consumers in Canada

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy Y. Ng ◽  
Muhammad Ans ◽  
Amn Marwaha
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Consumer Health Information ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
The Body ◽  
Natural Health Products ◽  
Consumer Health ◽  
Quality Of Information ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Mitragyna Speciosa

Abstract Background Amid a Canadian opioid crisis, many have turned to natural health products, such as kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), to manage their opioid withdrawal. Kratom has also been reported to relieve anxiety, improve stamina, and heighten physical performance. Given that kratom is not authorized for sale by Health Canada, many have turned to online retailers to purchase kratom due to its easy accessibility online. This study investigated the quality of consumer health information provided on the websites of online vendors selling kratom to consumers in Canada. Methods Following searches on Google.ca using search terms designed to simulate the information-seeking behaviour of a typical patient-user online, eligible websites were assessed using the 16-question DISCERN instrument, a tool designed to assess the quality of consumer health information. Searches were conducted on March 27, 2020 and only websites presenting information in English were included. Results A total of 200 webpages were identified; after screening based on eligibility criteria and combining different webpages that belonged to the same website, 51 websites were found to be eligible. The mean summed DISCERN score across all 51 websites was 36.95 (SD = 2.44) out of 75, which reflects poor quality consumer health information across the subset of websites. The overall quality of websites was poor, as 78% (n = 40) of vendors received a score of 2 or less out of 5. Conclusions Individuals who seek information about kratom online are frequently exposed to poor quality consumer health information. Those looking to purchase kratom online are not provided with the critical information necessary to make an informed decision regarding its use, such as the complete details about the risks and side effects or a description of how kratom affects the body. Given the growing interest in kratom, knowledge of the quality of information available can lead to improved dialogue between healthcare providers and patients.

scholarly journals Quality and readability of web-based Arabic health information on COVID-19: an infodemiological study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Esam Halboub ◽  
Mohammed Sultan Al-Ak’hali ◽  
Hesham M. Al-Mekhlafi ◽  
Mohammed Nasser Alhajj
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Grade Level ◽  
Code Of Conduct ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Flesch Reading Ease ◽  
Arabic Speakers ◽  
Grade Levels ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Quality Assessments

Abstract Background This study sought to assess the quality and readability of web-based Arabic health information on COVID-19. Methods Three search engines were searched on 13 April 2020 for specific Arabic terms on COVID-19. The first 100 consecutive websites from each engine were analyzed for eligibility, which resulted in a sample of 36 websites. These websites were subjected to quality assessments using the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmarks tool, the DISCERN tool, and Health on the Net Foundation Code of Conduct (HONcode) certification. The readability of the websites was assessed using an online readability calculator. Results Among the 36 eligible websites, only one (2.7%) was HONcode certified. No website attained a high score based on the criteria of the DISCERN tool; the mean score of all websites was 31.5 ± 12.55. As regards the JAMA benchmarks results, a mean score of 2.08 ± 1.05 was achieved by the websites; however, only four (11.1%) met all the JAMA criteria. The average grade levels for readability were 7.2 ± 7.5, 3.3 ± 0.6 and 93.5 ± 19.4 for the Flesch Kincaid Grade Level, Simple Measure of Gobbledygook, and Flesch Reading Ease scales, respectively. Conclusion Almost all of the most easily accessible web-based Arabic health information on COVID-19 does not meet recognized quality standards regardless of the level of readability and ability to be understood by the general population of Arabic speakers.

scholarly journals A credibility assessment of online breast cancer information

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Abarca-Cuming
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Code Of Conduct ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
Cancer Information ◽  
Digital Environment ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Written Information ◽  
Health Market

The rapid expansion of the Internet and changes in the health market are giving rise to the emergence of web-based tools for seeking health information. As a result, the Web empowers consumers by allowing them to access important medical information that has traditionally been mediated through healthcare professionals. Along with this growing trend comes the challenge of establishing credibility in a digital environment saturated with health information. One way to begin addressing this challenge is to assess the projection of credibility of health information found online. The purpose of this paper is twofold. Firstly, to develop a better understanding of how projections of credibility might differ between traditional and non-traditional online health sources. The former defined as websites belonging to formal and conventional institutions and the latter defined as informal and unconventional organizations. Secondly, to develop some strategic approaches that might be employed to enhance perceptions of online credibility. This paper conducts a content analysis using the Health on the Net Foundation’s Code of Conduct for medical and health websites and DISCERN, an instrument that assesses the quality of written information about treatment choices (DISCERN, 2012).

scholarly journals Information Quality, Its Dimension and the Basic Criteria for Assessing Information Quality

2012 ◽  
Vol 20 (Special-Number) ◽  
pp. 86-93
Author(s):  
Jana alá ◽  
Ľubica Černá
Keyword(s):  
Information Quality ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Quality Information ◽  
Information Control ◽  
Effective Management ◽  
Quality Of Information ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Control Information ◽  
Required Quality

Abstract Poor quality of information in modern organizations depends on many aspects. As such the size and nature of the information, human factors, organizational culture, experience and skills as a manager and other team members, technology, but also the quality of inputs including, but not least, include data quality. Applying methodology of quality control help organizations create effective management of its information. The method of quality information control depends on all those aspects. The importance of the organization should be given to dispose of an optimum amount of information in the required quality and especially to share this information. Quality information is the key to the success of the project management, but also in many other areas. Understanding the mechanics of control information management and class is essential, but it is experience that distinguishes successful information quality managers.

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