TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of the Quality of Online Information on Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
AU - Simani, Liam
AU - Oron, Yahav
AU - Handzel, Ophir
AU - Eta, Rani Abu
AU - Warshavsky, Anton
AU - Horowitz, Gilad
AU - Muhanna, Nidal
AU - Ungar, Omer J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, Otology & Neurotology, Inc.
PY - 2022/2/1
Y1 - 2022/2/1
N2 - Objective: To evaluate the quality of leading Internet resources of information on sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Study Design: Cross-sectional descriptive design. Settings: An online search by means of the Google search engine. Methods: An online search was conducted using terms related to SSNHL. We defined ''quality'' according to scaled readability measures (Flesch Reading Ease [FRE] and Flesch-Kincaid Grade-Level [FKGL]), as well as ''understandability'' and ''actionability'' (Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool), and Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) adherence. Scoring was performed by two independent physicians. Results: The 10 most frequently encountered patient education websites were analyzed. The average FRE score was ''fairly difficult'' (mean 57.28, median 55.55, range 46.4-71.8) and the average FKGL score was ''standard'' (mean 9th grade, median 9th grade, range 5th-10th grade). Nine websites were understandable (mean 83%, median 84%, range 69-100%), and seven had good actionability scores (mean 73%, median 75%, range 50-100%). Most websites conformed with the CPG for patient education at a reasonable level (mean 5.6, median 5.5, range 3-7). Notably, all websites encouraged seeking medical help. Conclusion: Internet resources for patient education on SSNHL vary in quality and are generally understandable to the average layman. There is still much room for better, more comprehensive and easier-to-read information to improve patients' medical knowledge about their condition. Level of Evidence: 1.
AB - Objective: To evaluate the quality of leading Internet resources of information on sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Study Design: Cross-sectional descriptive design. Settings: An online search by means of the Google search engine. Methods: An online search was conducted using terms related to SSNHL. We defined ''quality'' according to scaled readability measures (Flesch Reading Ease [FRE] and Flesch-Kincaid Grade-Level [FKGL]), as well as ''understandability'' and ''actionability'' (Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool), and Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) adherence. Scoring was performed by two independent physicians. Results: The 10 most frequently encountered patient education websites were analyzed. The average FRE score was ''fairly difficult'' (mean 57.28, median 55.55, range 46.4-71.8) and the average FKGL score was ''standard'' (mean 9th grade, median 9th grade, range 5th-10th grade). Nine websites were understandable (mean 83%, median 84%, range 69-100%), and seven had good actionability scores (mean 73%, median 75%, range 50-100%). Most websites conformed with the CPG for patient education at a reasonable level (mean 5.6, median 5.5, range 3-7). Notably, all websites encouraged seeking medical help. Conclusion: Internet resources for patient education on SSNHL vary in quality and are generally understandable to the average layman. There is still much room for better, more comprehensive and easier-to-read information to improve patients' medical knowledge about their condition. Level of Evidence: 1.
KW - Health literacy
KW - Internet
KW - Patient education
KW - Sudden deafness
KW - Sudden sensorineural hearing loss
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85123365033&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/MAO.0000000000003424
DO - 10.1097/MAO.0000000000003424
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C2 - 34772890
AN - SCOPUS:85123365033
SN - 1531-7129
VL - 43
SP - 159
EP - 164
JO - Otology and Neurotology
JF - Otology and Neurotology
IS - 2
ER -