Online information on dysmenorrhoea: An evaluation of readability, credibility, quality and usability.
Women’s Health
consumer health information
decision-making
dysmenorrhoea
information quality
internet information
pain
readability
Journal
Journal of clinical nursing
ISSN: 1365-2702
Titre abrégé: J Clin Nurs
Pays: England
ID NLM: 9207302
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Oct 2019
Oct 2019
Historique:
received:
30
10
2018
revised:
31
03
2019
accepted:
26
05
2019
pubmed:
5
6
2019
medline:
26
11
2019
entrez:
5
6
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
To evaluate online information on dysmenorrhoea, including readability, credibility, quality and usability. Menstrual pain impacts 45%-95% of women of reproductive age globally and is the leading cause of school and work absences among women. Women often seek online information on dysmenorrhoea; however, little is known about the information quality. This was a descriptive study to evaluate online information on dysmenorrhoea. We imitated search strategies of the general public. Specifically, we employed the three most popular search engines worldwide-Google, Yahoo and Bing-and used lay search terms, "period pain" and "menstrual cramps." We screened 60 web pages. Following removal of duplicates and irrelevant web pages, 25 met the eligibility criteria. Two team members independently evaluated the included web pages using standardised tools. Readability was evaluated with the Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease and Flesch-Kincaid Grade formulas; credibility, quality and usability were evaluated with established tools. We followed the STROBE checklist for reporting this study. For readability, the mean Flesch-Kincaid level was 10th grade. For credibility, 8% of web pages referenced scientific literature and 28% stated the author's name and qualifications. For quality, no web page employed user-driven content production; 8% of web pages referenced evidence-based guidelines, 32% of web pages had accurate content, and 4% of web pages recommended shared decision-making. Most web pages were interactive and included nontextual information. Some nontextual information was inaccurate. Online information on dysmenorrhoea has generally low readability, mixed credibility and variable quality. Strategies to improve health information on dysmenorrhoea include avoiding complex terms, incorporating visual aids, presenting evidence-based information and developing a decision aid to support shared decision-making. Healthcare providers should be aware of the problematic health information that individuals are exposed to and provide education about how to navigate online health information.
Sections du résumé
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate online information on dysmenorrhoea, including readability, credibility, quality and usability.
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Menstrual pain impacts 45%-95% of women of reproductive age globally and is the leading cause of school and work absences among women. Women often seek online information on dysmenorrhoea; however, little is known about the information quality.
DESIGN
METHODS
This was a descriptive study to evaluate online information on dysmenorrhoea.
METHODS
METHODS
We imitated search strategies of the general public. Specifically, we employed the three most popular search engines worldwide-Google, Yahoo and Bing-and used lay search terms, "period pain" and "menstrual cramps." We screened 60 web pages. Following removal of duplicates and irrelevant web pages, 25 met the eligibility criteria. Two team members independently evaluated the included web pages using standardised tools. Readability was evaluated with the Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease and Flesch-Kincaid Grade formulas; credibility, quality and usability were evaluated with established tools. We followed the STROBE checklist for reporting this study.
RESULTS
RESULTS
For readability, the mean Flesch-Kincaid level was 10th grade. For credibility, 8% of web pages referenced scientific literature and 28% stated the author's name and qualifications. For quality, no web page employed user-driven content production; 8% of web pages referenced evidence-based guidelines, 32% of web pages had accurate content, and 4% of web pages recommended shared decision-making. Most web pages were interactive and included nontextual information. Some nontextual information was inaccurate.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
Online information on dysmenorrhoea has generally low readability, mixed credibility and variable quality.
RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE
CONCLUSIONS
Strategies to improve health information on dysmenorrhoea include avoiding complex terms, incorporating visual aids, presenting evidence-based information and developing a decision aid to support shared decision-making. Healthcare providers should be aware of the problematic health information that individuals are exposed to and provide education about how to navigate online health information.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31162870
doi: 10.1111/jocn.14954
pmc: PMC6739134
mid: NIHMS1033646
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Review
Langues
eng
Pagination
3590-3598Subventions
Organisme : NCATS NIH HHS
ID : KL2 TR002530
Pays : United States
Organisme : NCATS NIH HHS
ID : UL1 TR002529
Pays : United States
Informations de copyright
© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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