Quality and Readability of Web-Based Information for Patients With Pancreatic Cysts: DISCERN and Readability Test Analysis.

Sven P Oman,Mark Waddle,Juan E Corral,Himesh Zaver

doi:10.2196/25602

Abstract

BackgroundPancreatic cysts are a complex medical problem with several treatment options. Patients use web-based health information to understand their conditions and to guide treatment choices.ObjectiveThe goal of this study was to describe the quality and readability of publicly available web-based information on pancreatic cysts and to compare this information across website affiliations.MethodsA Google search for “pancreatic cysts” was performed and the first 30 websites were evaluated. Website affiliations were classified as academic, media, nonprofit, government, or not disclosed. Information describing cancer risk was recorded. The DISCERN instrument measured the quality of content regarding treatment choices. Four standardized tests were used to measure readability.ResultsTwenty-one websites were included. The majority of the websites (20/21, 95%) described the cancer risk associated with pancreatic cysts. Nearly half of the websites were written by an academic hospital or organization. The average DISCERN score for all websites was 40.4 (range 26-65.5, maximum 80). Websites received low scores due to lack of references, failure to describe the risks of treatment, or lack of details on how treatment choices affect quality of life. The average readability score was 14.74 (range 5.76-23.85, maximum 19+), indicating a college reading level. There were no significant differences across website affiliation groups.ConclusionsWeb-based information for patients with pancreatic cysts is of moderate quality and is written above the reading level of most Americans. Gastroenterological, cancer treatment organizations, and physicians should advocate for improving the available information by providing cancer risk stratification, treatment impact on quality of life, references, and better readability.

Highlights

Web-based information for patients with pancreatic cysts is of moderate quality and is written above the reading level of most Americans
The incidence of pancreatic cysts is increasing in developed countries owing to refined abdominal imaging and increasing use of imaging overall [1]
Quality was suboptimal due to incomplete descriptions of pancreatic cyst management, lack of clear sources of information, and incomplete descriptions of the risks associated with treatment or how treatment choices affect the overall quality of life

Summary

Introduction

The incidence of pancreatic cysts is increasing in developed countries owing to refined abdominal imaging and increasing use of imaging overall [1]. Reviewing of web-based health information may empower patients to take a more active role in their treatment and improve their relationship, communication, and satisfaction during consultation with their treating physician, it may introduce cyberchondria, and some websites have information that is of poor quality, is difficult to read, and inconsistent with medical practice guidelines [3,4,5,6,7,8]. Some of these problems exist because there is no regulation or oversight of web-based health information, which may result in information that is incomplete, unsupported, outdated, biased, or inappropriate for the average reader. Patients use web-based health information to understand their conditions and to guide treatment choices

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion