Corrigendum to 'Quality and Readability Assessment of Patient-Centered Online Information on Apical Surgery' [International Dental Journal Volume 75, Issue 5, October 2025, 100955

Quality and Readability Assessment of Patient-Centered Online Information on Apical Surgery

This paper extends information quality (IQ) assessment methodology by arguing that veracity/deception should be one of the components of intrinsic IQ dimensions. Since veracity/deception differs contextually from accuracy and other well‐studied components of intrinsic IQ, the inclusion of veracity/deception in the set of IQ dimensions has its own contribution to the assessment and improvement of IQ. Recently developed software to detect deception in textual information represents the ready‐to‐use IQ assessment (IQA) instruments. The focus of the paper is on the specific IQ problem related to deceptive messages and affected information activities as well as IQA instruments (or tools) of detecting deception to improve IQ. In particular, the methodology of automated deception detection in written communication provides the basis for measuring veracity/deception dimension and demonstrates no overlap with other intrinsic IQ dimensions. Considering several known deception types (such as falsification, concealment and equivocation), we emphasize that the IQA deception tools are primarily suitable for falsification. Certain types of deception strategies cannot be spotted automatically with the existing IQA instruments based on underlying linguistic differences between truth‐tellers and liars. We propose the potential avenues for the future development of the automated instruments to detect deception taking into account the theoretical, methodological and practical aspects and needs. Blending multidisciplinary research on Deception Detection with the one on IQ in Library and Information Science (LIS) and Management Information Systems (MIS), the paper contributes to IQA and its improvement by adding one more dimension, veracity/deception, to intrinsic IQ.

We aim to assess the quality and readability of online information available to patients considering cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC). The top three search engines (Google, Bing, and Yahoo) were searched in March 2022. Websites were classified as academic, hospital-affiliated, foundation/advocacy, commercial, or unspecified. Quality of information was assessed using the JAMA benchmark criteria (0-4) and DISCERN tool (16-80), and the presence of a Health On the Net code (HONcode) seal. Readability was evaluated using the Flesch Reading Ease score. Fifty unique websites were included. The average JAMA and DISCERN scores of all websites were 0.72 ± 1.14 and 39.58 ± 13.71, respectively. Foundation/advocacy websites had significantly higher JAMA mean score than commercial (p = 0.044), academic (p < 0.001), and hospital-affiliated websites (p = 0.001). Foundation/advocacy sites had a significantly higher DISCERN mean score than hospital-affiliated (p = 0.035) and academic websites (p = 0.030). The HONcode seal was present in 4 (8%) websites analyzed. Readability was difficult and at the level of college students. The overall quality of patient-oriented online information on CRS-HIPEC is poor and available resources may not be comprehensible to the general public. Patients seeking information on CRS-HIPEC should be directed to sites affiliated with foundation/advocacy organizations.

The internet has become a vital resource through which patients learn about medical conditions. The aim of this study was to assess the quality and readability of online information about nutrition and diabetes management. An internet search was conducted using three search terms of varying sophistication (how to eat with diabetes, diabetes diet, and medical nutrition therapy for diabetes) and the three most popular search engines (Yahoo, Bing, and Google). Forty-two websites were prospectively analyzed for quality of information and assessed for readability using the Flesch-Kincaid score. The 42 websites reviewed demonstrated wide variability in quality, regardless of the search term entered. The reading level required to understand the materials varied based on sophistication of the search term and ranged from the 6th- to the 11th-grade level. The quality of online information on nutrition education for patients with diabetes was extremely variable and readability often was higher than the average American reading level (8th grade). An awareness of quality and readability of the materials found on the internet can strengthen the patient-provider relationship.

Searching the internet for information on prostate cancer screening: an assessment of quality

Plantar fasciitis and calcaneal spur are common causes of heel pain in the community. People use the Internet to obtain medical information about diseases. We reviewed Internet information sources on plantar fasciitis and calcaneal spur for quality and readability. The first 50 websites for each search term ("calcaneal spur", "heel spur", and "plantar fasciitis") were scanned on www.google.com . Six different valid tools were used for information quality and readability assessment. We searched for HONCode (Health On the Net Foundation Code) stamps on included websites. The total mean points for DISCERN were 50.52 ± 14.62, and the total mean points for JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) were 2.42 ± 1.26. In total, 25.72% of 97 websites had HONCode stamps. The average scores for the readability indicators were calculated to be Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL): 7.27 ± 1.71, Gunning Fog: 8.46 ± 2.17, Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG): 6.89 ± 1.24, and Coleman Liau Index: 15.56 ± 1.85. In our study, when the website resources were examined, there were profit websites the most and website quality and readability were moderate level. A significant proportion of the websites have a financial bias and provide low-quality information. A mechanism for monitoring the quality and readability of online information must be established and managed systematically.

Dietary and herbal supplements for fatigue: A quality assessment of online consumer health information

BACKGROUND:Access to online patient education information can lead to more effective self-care and disease management. However, the large amount of online information provided through unknown or unreliable sources can challenge patients to trust and use this information. This study was designed to examine the opinions of Iranian gastrointestinal patients about the quality of online information used.MATERIALS AND METHODS:A qualitative study was conducted using thematic analysis. Data were gathered via a semi-structured interview with 29 gastrointestinal patients, and data analysis was performed by qualitative content analysis using open coding with MAXQDA 2018 software.RESULTS:Based on the study, 22 codes were extracted in nine subcategories named as: “Emphasis on the identity of providers,” “Nature of online information,” “Distrust on online information,” “Poor quality of information,” “Giving misinformation,” “False impact,” “Improve communication,” “Positive effect on the patient,” “Better Diagnosis.”CONCLUSIONS:In the current situation, Iranian patients are not confident enough about the quality of available online information. They believe that the use of current poor-quality information has negative consequences. However, they tend to use online patient education materials are produced in Persian by reputable scientific authorities. Using online information can increase patients’ knowledge and lead to better communication with medical staff and other similar patients. They can use this information for self-care with more confidence, and such an approach can also have significant benefits for the national health system.

Objective: To assess the quality and readability of online information on holmium laser enucleation of the prostate in managing benign prostate hyperplasia using the most-used search engine worldwide, Google. Methods: Google search terms “Holmium laser surgery” and “enlarged prostate” were used to generate 150 search results. Two independent authors (i) excluded any paywall, scientific literature, or advertisement and (ii) conducted an independent assessment on information quality, which was based on DISCERN, QUEST, and JAMA criteria, and readability, which was based on the FKG, GFI, SMOG, and FRE scores on qualified webpages. A third author was involved if there were any discrepancies between the assessments. Results: 107 qualified webpages were included in the data analysis. The median DISCERN score was 42 out of 80 (IQR 35–49). The median JAMA score was 0 out of 4 (IQR 0–1). The median QUEST score was 9 out of 28 (IQR 9–12). Using the non-parametric ANOVA and post hoc Games–Howell test, significant differences were identified between rankings of webpages. Sponsorship had no influence on the quality of webpages. The overall readability level required a minimum reading level of grade 11. Linear regression analysis showed that a higher ranked webpage is a positive predictor for all three quality assessment tools. Conclusions: The overall quality of online information on HoLEP is poor. We identify that the top-ranked google searches have a higher DISCERN score and are a positive predictor for DISCERN/QUEST/JAMA. Quality online information can benefit patients but should be used in conjunction with professional medical consultation.

Factors Associated with the Quality of Online Information about Scapholunate Interosseous Ligament Insufficiency

Impacts of poor quality of information are felt at every level in an organisation. To mitigate these impacts, information quality must be assessed and managed. However, obtaining accurate measurements and cost-effective assessments of information quality have proven to be an extremely difficult task due to the complexities of information systems and the various information quality dimensions depending upon the business properties. Most of the available information quality assessment frameworks are based on measuring customer data only and thus, they do not provide comprehensive and systematic assessment of information quality. However, not only that these approaches are unable to provide a complete measurement of all the information quality dimensions, but are also unable to highlight the dirtiness of data due to the correlation of various information quality dimensions. This paper introduces a new approach to information quality measurement and employs Six Sigma approach to information quality assessment. This approach focuses on continuous improvement of information quality by a systematic assessment of multiple information quality dimensions. It specifically tackles the correlation and the relative importance of information quality dimensions and proposes precise and systematic information quality assessment criteria.

This study aimed to evaluate the readability and quality of current online information on Bell's palsy. A Google search using the terms 'Bell's palsy' and 'facial palsy' was performed separately. The first three pages of results were analysed. Readability was assessed using Flesch Reading Ease Score, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, the Gunning-Fog Index and the Simple Measure of Gobbledygook. Quality was assessed using the Discern tool. Spearman's correlation between quality and readability was calculated. A total of 31 websites met the inclusion criteria. The mean Flesch Reading Ease Score, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, the Gunning Fox Index and the Simple Measure of Gobbledygook scores were 52.45 (95 per cent confidence interval = 47.01-57.86), 10.50 (95 per cent confidence interval = 9.42-11.58), 12.76 (95 per cent confidence interval = 11.68-13.85) and 9.36 (95 per cent confidence interval = 8.52-10.20), respectively. The average Discern score was 44 (95 per cent confidence interval = 40.88-47.12). A negligible correlation was noted between the Discern and Flesch Reading Ease Score (rs = -0.05, p = 0.80). Online information on Bell's palsy is generally of fair quality but is written above the recommended reading age guidance in the UK.

Aims: In this study, we investigated the readability, quality and reliability of Turkish websites with information about brain death. We evaluated the quality and reliability of online information about brain death. Methods: In 5 May 2024, a search was performed by typing the word "brain death" into Google's search engine (http://www.google.com). Publicly internet searches performed were analyzed. Using Google Search, the first 100 websites containing the term "brain death" were evaluated. Commercial websites, advertising sites, chat sites, forum sites, magazine sites, sites containing only images or videos were excluded from the study. After applying inclusion criteria, 88 websites were identified, 46 of which were excluded due to duplication, leaving 42 sites. An additional 12 websites were excluded for not meeting criteria. Evaluations were performed using the JAMA Benchmark criteria, which assess health information reliability across four dimensions, and the DISCERN scoring system, a tool for evaluating the quality of health information. Results: The mean JAMA Benchmark score was 2.02 ± 1.58, and the mean DISCERN score was 42.1 ± 19.07, indicating moderate quality. Many websites failed to meet critical quality benchmarks, revealing significant gaps in the reliability and accuracy of online information about brain death. Conclusion: As a result of this study, highlights the moderate quality of online health information about brain death and underscores the need for improvements in the reliability of such content. Greater efforts are required to enhance the visibility and accessibility of trustworthy sources. Health organizations and professionals should take a more active role in developing and promoting accurate online resources. Future research should focus on addressing gaps in public health literacy and implementing strategies to improve the dissemination of reliable health information.

Aim This study aims to evaluate the reliability and quality of online information on anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Methods An internet search on the three top search engines, Google, Yahoo!, and Bing, was done using the keywords "anterior cruciate ligament injury". The search was carried out in June 2023, and 39 websites were selected. Exclusion criteria comprised video-only explanatory websites (such as YouTube) and access requiring payment or registration. Websites were categorised using the following scoring systems: (i) DISCERN score, (ii) Health-on-Net Foundation Code (HON code), (iii) Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria, and (iv) ACL content score, which was specifically designed for this study. Results The majority of websites were commercial (n = 16 [41.0%]), followed by academic (n = 10 [25.6%]). None of the websites included had a HON code present. The mean DISCERN score was 52.1, the mean JAMA score was 2.62, and the mean ACL content score was 7.49. Conclusion There is a vast amount of information available on the internet with regard to the topic of ACL injuries, and this ranges from excellent to poor-quality information. In light of this, orthopaedic specialists and healthcare providers must guide patients to online resources that are reliable and trusted based on either their personal experience or resource type (academic/physician). In addition, we recommend that websites providing information seek HON-code certification as a seal of quality, as this has previously been noted in previous studies to be positively linked with the quality of information delivered.

Topical problems of modern business are: how to cull right information from its abundance, how to decide which information is valuable and which one is useless, finally, how to assess the quality of the usable informa-tion. These problems are relevant and important both globally and locally in Lithuanian business. This paper highlights information quality (IQ) management and assessment peculiarities, reveals the importance of IQ in the modern business. The authors present IQ dimensions that are essen-tial to Lithuanian and foreign business information con-sumers because effective IQ assessment and manage-ment depend upon right evaluation of these IQ dimen-sions. The authors of this paper also evaluated informa-tion maturity levels of Lithuanian business organiza-tions and revealed their attitudes towards the informa-tion. This information maturity was assessed according to IBM Corporation proposed Information Maturity Model. In reference to the accomplished research, authors of this paper identify the crucial problems that influence business IQ and also highlight these root problems: absence of proper technologies, poor information tech-nologies (IT), inappropriate software, difficulties to discover reasons for IQ errors, insufficient information security, lack of time to ensure IQ, lack of reliable in-formation sources, poor knowledge of business informa-tion consumer (employee). The findings revealed that the main business IQ assurance problem is influenced simply by the lack of time. To draw a conclusion, to ensure IQ, information must be presented and produced in accordance with clearly defined IQ dimensions, just like other products (services and goods) are supplied and evaluated ac-cording to specific quality characteristics. Conse-quently, the identification of IQ dimensions that are the most important to information consumers, and the esti-mation of IQ measurement criteria and its methodology are the basis for the better information product’s qual-ity assessment. To assure quality information in the organizations the authors of this paper propose: to adapt IQ Man-agement Model that might service like one of the tools for solving IQ assurance problems, to define and choose right business IQ dimensions, and change organiza-tional attitude towards the value of information.