Stephanie Bernard1, Tiffany Cooke, Tascha Cole, Laura Hachani, Johnathan Bernard. 1. Stephanie Bernard is an assistant professor in the PA program at Shenandoah University in Leesburg, Va. Tiffany Cooke practices at Valley GI Consultants in Glendale, Ariz. Tascha Cole is a data manager for the PA program at Shenandoah University. Laura Hachani practices in the cardiac unit at Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore, Md. Johnathan Bernard is an orthopedic surgeon at the National Sports Medicine Institute in Leesburg, Va. Dr. Bernard discloses research/grant support from the Arthroscopy Association of North America, Smith and Nephew, Inc., and the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, and financial or material support from Supreme Orthopedic Systems, LLC, and Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The internet has become a vital resource through which patients learn about medical conditions. The aim of this study was to assess the quality and readability of online information about nutrition and diabetes management. METHODS: An internet search was conducted using three search terms of varying sophistication (how to eat with diabetes, diabetes diet, and medical nutrition therapy for diabetes) and the three most popular search engines (Yahoo, Bing, and Google). Forty-two websites were prospectively analyzed for quality of information and assessed for readability using the Flesch-Kincaid score. RESULTS: The 42 websites reviewed demonstrated wide variability in quality, regardless of the search term entered. The reading level required to understand the materials varied based on sophistication of the search term and ranged from the 6th- to the 11th-grade level. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of online information on nutrition education for patients with diabetes was extremely variable and readability often was higher than the average American reading level (8th grade). An awareness of quality and readability of the materials found on the internet can strengthen the patient-provider relationship.
OBJECTIVE: The internet has become a vital resource through which patients learn about medical conditions. The aim of this study was to assess the quality and readability of online information about nutrition and diabetes management. METHODS: An internet search was conducted using three search terms of varying sophistication (how to eat with diabetes, diabetes diet, and medical nutrition therapy for diabetes) and the three most popular search engines (Yahoo, Bing, and Google). Forty-two websites were prospectively analyzed for quality of information and assessed for readability using the Flesch-Kincaid score. RESULTS: The 42 websites reviewed demonstrated wide variability in quality, regardless of the search term entered. The reading level required to understand the materials varied based on sophistication of the search term and ranged from the 6th- to the 11th-grade level. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of online information on nutrition education for patients with diabetes was extremely variable and readability often was higher than the average American reading level (8th grade). An awareness of quality and readability of the materials found on the internet can strengthen the patient-provider relationship.
Authors: Afendi Hamat; Azhar Jaludin; Tuti Ningseh Mohd-Dom; Haslina Rani; Nor Aini Jamil; Aznida Firzah Abdul Aziz Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-06-02 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Varun Ayyaswami; Divya Padmanabhan; Manthan Patel; Arpan Vaikunth Prabhu; David R Hansberry; Nitin Agarwal; Jared W Magnani Journal: Health Lit Res Pract Date: 2019-04-10