Patient-Centred Web-Based Information on Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Quality and Readability

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Health Informatics
• Patient Education

Background:

• The internet is a primary source of health information for head and neck cancer patients.
• The quality and readability of online health content are inconsistent.
• Assessing web-based resources is crucial for patient understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the quality and readability of online resources for head and neck cancer.
• To identify challenges in patient access to reliable health information.
• To inform the development of better patient education materials.

Main Methods:

• Searched Google, Bing, and Yahoo! for head and neck cancer terms.
• Screened 50 results per search engine.
• Assessed 285 eligible websites for quality (DISCERN) and readability (FKRGL, FRES).

Main Results:

• 46% of websites were rated as poor quality.
• Median Flesch-Kincaid Reading Grade Level (FKRGL) was 8.6.
• Median Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES) was 55.7, indicating complex readability.

Conclusions:

• Online information for head and neck cancer is often low-quality and too complex.
• Accessible and reliable web resources are needed for patients.
• Improved online content can support patient understanding and healthcare decisions.