Semantics Matter: Cheiloschisis Web-Based Information Differs from Cleft Lip

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Increased access and availability to a seemingly endless amount of information online has made it quite onerous for both patients and physicians to find pertinent information that is suitable for the readers at all educational levels. As machine-learning algorithms become more advanced, an internet user’s initial search, which initiates these algorithms, has become pivotal. The purpose of this study was to better understand the disparity in the readability of online information in the setting of cleft lips, also known as cheiloschisis. METHODS: Google searches for the terms “Cheiloschisis” and “Cleft Lip” were performed on the same day in February 2022 on a VPN located in San Francisco, California. The top 10 nonsponsored and nonadvertised results were selected and analyzed for Flesch-Kincaid Readability Ease, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Gunning Fog Index, Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) Index, Coleman-Liau Index, and Automated Readability Index. The two cohorts were then compared using Student’s t-tests. P<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Scores for cheiloschisis vs cleft lip were significantly different with regard to Flesch-Kincaid Readability Ease (mean: 40.41 and 63.76 respectively, p < 0.01), Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (mean: 8.57 and 6.13, p < 0.05), Coleman-Liau Index (mean: 17.45 and 12.73, p < 0.01), and Automated Readability Index (mean: 7.17 and 4.98, p < 0.05; Figure). No significant differences were noted between two cohorts in Gunning Fog Score (mean: 8.32 and 7.03, p = 0.17) and SMOG index (mean: 5.73 and 6.11, p = 0.37).FigureCONCLUSION: The terminology used by all web-based users determines the ability of the user to fully comprehend the results which are populated.