{"title":"Phototherapy for vitiligo: Quality and readability of online health information.","authors":"Krithika Nayudu, Rhea Malik, Stephanie Sanchez-Melendez, T J Hazen, Mihir K Patil, Vinod E Nambudiri","doi":"10.1111/phpp.12958","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/purpose: </strong>Vitiligo is a depigmenting disorder that affects up to 2% of the population. Due to the relatively high prevalence of this disease and its psychological impact on patients, decisions concerning treatment can be difficult. As patients increasingly seek health information online, the caliber of online health information (OHI) becomes crucial in patients' decisions regarding their care. We aimed to assess the quality and readability of OHI regarding phototherapy in the management of vitiligo.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Similar to previously published studies assessing OHI, we used 5 medical search terms as a proxy for online searches made by patients. Results for each search term were assessed using an enhanced DISCERN analysis, Health On the Net code of conduct (HONcode) accreditation guidelines, and several readability indices. The DISCERN analysis is a validated questionnaire used to assess the quality of OHI, while HONcode accreditation is a marker of site reliability.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 500 websites evaluated, 174 were HONcode-accredited (35%). Mean DISCERN scores for all websites were 58.9% and 51.7% for website reliability and treatment sections, respectively. Additionally, 0/130 websites analyzed for readability scored at the NIH-recommended sixth-grade reading level.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These analyses shed light on the shortcomings of OHI regarding phototherapy treatment for vitiligo, which could exacerbate disparities for patients who are already at higher risk of worse health outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":20123,"journal":{"name":"Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine","volume":"40 2","pages":"e12958"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5000,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1111/phpp.12958","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"DERMATOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background/purpose: Vitiligo is a depigmenting disorder that affects up to 2% of the population. Due to the relatively high prevalence of this disease and its psychological impact on patients, decisions concerning treatment can be difficult. As patients increasingly seek health information online, the caliber of online health information (OHI) becomes crucial in patients' decisions regarding their care. We aimed to assess the quality and readability of OHI regarding phototherapy in the management of vitiligo.
Methods: Similar to previously published studies assessing OHI, we used 5 medical search terms as a proxy for online searches made by patients. Results for each search term were assessed using an enhanced DISCERN analysis, Health On the Net code of conduct (HONcode) accreditation guidelines, and several readability indices. The DISCERN analysis is a validated questionnaire used to assess the quality of OHI, while HONcode accreditation is a marker of site reliability.
Results: Of the 500 websites evaluated, 174 were HONcode-accredited (35%). Mean DISCERN scores for all websites were 58.9% and 51.7% for website reliability and treatment sections, respectively. Additionally, 0/130 websites analyzed for readability scored at the NIH-recommended sixth-grade reading level.
Conclusion: These analyses shed light on the shortcomings of OHI regarding phototherapy treatment for vitiligo, which could exacerbate disparities for patients who are already at higher risk of worse health outcomes.
期刊介绍:
The journal is a forum for new information about the direct and distant effects of electromagnetic radiation (ultraviolet, visible and infrared) mediated through skin. The divisions of the editorial board reflect areas of specific interest: aging, carcinogenesis, immunology, instrumentation and optics, lasers, photodynamic therapy, photosensitivity, pigmentation and therapy. Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine includes original articles, reviews, communications and editorials.
Original articles may include the investigation of experimental or pathological processes in humans or animals in vivo or the investigation of radiation effects in cells or tissues in vitro. Methodology need have no limitation; rather, it should be appropriate to the question addressed.