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Assessing the readability and quality of online information on Bell's palsy
1Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
Objective:
This study aimed to evaluate the readability and quality of current online information on Bell's palsy.
Method:
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.
Results:
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 (r = -0.05, p = 0.80).
Conclusion:
Online information on Bell's palsy is generally of fair quality but is written above the recommended reading age guidance in the UK.
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