An objective analysis of quality and readability of online information on COVID-19
Autor: | K. E. Murray, Cormac McCarthy, N. E. Wrigley Kelly, Donna O'Shea |
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Rok vydání: | 2021 |
Předmět: |
Code of conduct
020205 medical informatics media_common.quotation_subject Biomedical Engineering Bioengineering 02 engineering and technology Certification Readability Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine Information Reading (process) 0202 electrical engineering electronic engineering information engineering Quality (business) 030212 general & internal medicine media_common Original Paper Internet Medical education business.industry COVID-19 Quality Coronavirus Index (publishing) Professional association The Internet Psychology business Biotechnology |
Zdroj: | Health and Technology |
ISSN: | 2190-7196 2190-7188 |
DOI: | 10.1007/s12553-021-00574-2 |
Popis: | High quality, readable health information is vital to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to assess the quality and readability of online COVID-19 information using 6 validated tools. This is a cross-sectional study. “COVID-19” was searched across the three most popular English language search engines. Quality was evaluated using the DISCERN score, Journal of the American Medical Association benchmark criteria and Health On the Net Foundation Code of Conduct. Readability was assessed using the Flesch Reading Ease Score, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level and Gunning-Fog Index. 41 websites were suitable for analysis. 9.8% fulfilled all JAMA criteria. Only one website was HONCode certified. Mean DISCERN score was 47.8/80 (“fair”). This was highest in websites published by a professional society/medical journal/healthcare provider. Readability varied from an 8th to 12th grade level. The overall quality of online COVID-19 information was “fair”. Much of this information was above the recommended 5th to 6th grade level, impeding access for many. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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