Quality of the patient-oriented web-based information on esophageal cancer

Abstract

This study was aimed to analyze the readability and quality of patient education websites on esophageal cancer. Yahoo!, Google, and Bing search engines were searched using keywords esophageal cancer, esophageal tumor, esophageal tumor, esophageal malignancy, esophageal cancer, esophageal tumor, esophageal tumor, and esophageal malignancy. The first 50 websites resulting in each keyword search were evaluated using validated FRES, LIDA, and DISCERN scores to assess readability, usability, and reliability, and quality of information, respectively. Non-parametric tests were used for statistical analysis. A total of 108 eligible websites were included in the analysis. Thirty (27.8%) out of the 108 eligible web sites had obtained Health on the Net (HON) code certification. The median FRES score of the included websites was 48.25 out of 100 (range: 15.6-70.1). The median LIDA usability and reliability scores were 46.5 out of 54 (range: 22-54) and 39.0 out of 51 (range: 10-51), respectively. The median DISCERN score was 50.5 out of 80 (range: 23-79). A low DISCERN score (≤ 50%) was found in 50% (n = 54) of the websites. The DISCERN score was found to be significantly associated with LIDA usability, reliability, LIDA overall scores (p < 0.001), and HON code certification (p = 0.01). The quality of the websites providing patient-centered information on the Internet ranged between moderate and low with regards to readability, usability, and reliability scores. Better informed decisions on treatment may be facilitated with the access to good quality information online. Therefore, strategies need to be implemented to regulate and standardize websites to provide good quality, accurate information.