PURPOSE: Approximately 90 million American adults have literacy skills that test below a high school reading level. Websites written above this level can pose a challenge for those seeking online information about prostate cancer treatment options. In this study we determine the readability of selected websites using a systematic search process and validated readability formulas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified the 3 most popular keywords from 513 terms related to prostate cancer treatment options. We then systematically collected 270 websites from the top 3 search engines, and excluded from study those that were nonEnglish, not primarily text, irrelevant and/or duplicated. We used the Flesch-Kincaid grade level and Flesch Reading Ease to determine scores for each site. RESULTS: A total of 62 unique websites were analyzed. Median Flesch-Kincaid grade level was 12.0 (range 8.0 to 12.0) and median Flesch Reading Ease score was 38.1 (range 0.0 to 65.5). Only 3 sites (4.8%) were written below a high school reading level (less than 9.0). CONCLUSIONS: Few websites with discussions on prostate cancer treatment options are written below a high school reading level. This is problematic for a third of Americans who seek to further educate themselves using online resources. Clinicians can use this information to guide their patients to appropriate websites.
PURPOSE: Approximately 90 million American adults have literacy skills that test below a high school reading level. Websites written above this level can pose a challenge for those seeking online information about prostate cancer treatment options. In this study we determine the readability of selected websites using a systematic search process and validated readability formulas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified the 3 most popular keywords from 513 terms related to prostate cancer treatment options. We then systematically collected 270 websites from the top 3 search engines, and excluded from study those that were nonEnglish, not primarily text, irrelevant and/or duplicated. We used the Flesch-Kincaid grade level and Flesch Reading Ease to determine scores for each site. RESULTS: A total of 62 unique websites were analyzed. Median Flesch-Kincaid grade level was 12.0 (range 8.0 to 12.0) and median Flesch Reading Ease score was 38.1 (range 0.0 to 65.5). Only 3 sites (4.8%) were written below a high school reading level (less than 9.0). CONCLUSIONS: Few websites with discussions on prostate cancer treatment options are written below a high school reading level. This is problematic for a third of Americans who seek to further educate themselves using online resources. Clinicians can use this information to guide their patients to appropriate websites.
Authors: Hendrik Borgmann; Jan-Henning Wölm; Stefan Vallo; Rene Mager; Johannes Huber; Johannes Breyer; Johannes Salem; Stacy Loeb; Axel Haferkamp; Igor Tsaur Journal: J Cancer Educ Date: 2017-03 Impact factor: 2.037
Authors: Stephen A Rosenberg; David Francis; Craig R Hullett; Zachary S Morris; Michael M Fisher; Jeffrey V Brower; Kristin A Bradley; Bethany M Anderson; Michael F Bassetti; Randall J Kimple Journal: J Natl Compr Canc Netw Date: 2016-06 Impact factor: 11.908
Authors: Adam E M Eltorai; Syed S Naqvi; Soha Ghanian; Craig P Eberson; Arnold-Peter C Weiss; Christopher T Born; Alan H Daniels Journal: Clin Transl Sci Date: 2015-12-17 Impact factor: 4.689
Authors: Seul Ki Choi; Jessica S Seel; Brooks Yelton; Susan E Steck; Douglas P McCormick; Johnny Payne; Anthony Minter; Elizabeth K Deutchki; James R Hébert; Daniela B Friedman Journal: Am J Mens Health Date: 2018-04-12