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Background: Pain develops in 39.3%–66.4% of cancer patients. Cancer pain decreases the patient’s quality of life and causes mood disorders; however, the patient’s access to healthcare information may improve these problems. It has been shown that 79% of cancer patients use the internet to access health information. The internet helps patients in making informed decisions concerning their treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the readability levels, content, and quality of patient information texts on Turkish websites regarding cancer pain. Methods: The texts were transferred to the readability calculation engine and the results were obtained according to the Ateşman and Bezirci-Yılmaz formulas. The content of the patient information texts on the websites was evaluated by the author. The texts were also evaluated in terms of quality by the DISCERN tool. Results: The mean value of the Ateşman formula was 47.74 ± 10.39 and compatible with being difficult to read. The result of the Bezirci-Yılmaz formula was 13.28 ± 3.53 and compatible with a license degree. The mean value of the total DISCERN score was 29.13 ± 6.26. Conclusion: Turkish healthcare information articles about cancer pain on the internet were not suitable for the education level of our society. The articles were insufficient in terms of content and comply with having a poor quality. Therefore, they could not meet the needs of the patients. A better relationship between the patient and physician may be achieved by improving the readability of health information texts on the internet and ensuring that its content is sufficient and reliable. In this manner, the success of the treatment may be improved and the results of any undertreatment may be minimized. |
