Evaluation of online cancer information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: a systematic environmental...

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience greater cancer incidence rates, unmet information needs, and poorer cancer outcomes compared to the general Australian population. This environmental scan evaluated cancer websites for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia.

An environmental scan using 8 Google searches was conducted in July 2025 to identify cancer-related websites targeted toward Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia. Patient-facing resources were assessed for readability, understandability, and actionability using grade level assessments of readability and the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool. Cultural relevance was assessed using an Aboriginal cultural relevance measure.

Of 239 search results, 12 websites were patient facing and contained material for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers, primarily on common cancers. Readability generally exceeded the recommended Grade 6 reading level, with only one resource below Grade 6 level. Resources were considered understandable with scores of >80% for 7/12 websites (range 50-100%); 2/12 included summaries and 7/12 plain language. Actionability scores ranged from 0% to 100% (M = 63.6%, SD = 37.0), with wide variation. Cultural relevance averaged 3.8/7 (SD = 1.9) with only one resource meeting all criteria (7/7). Most lacked cultural specificity and did not provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages translations.

Our results necessitate co-design with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for resources appropriate to community needs and including information on a broad range of cancers. Websites should optimize the readability and cultural safety of information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples seeking cancer information.