Jatin Kaicker|Victoria Borg Debono|Wilfred Dang|Norman Buckley|Lehana Thabane
Assessment of the quality and variability of health information on chronic pain websites using the DISCERN instrument
McMaster University|McMaster University|McMaster University|McMaster University|McMaster University
abstract background internet used increasingly providers tool disseminating painrelated health information patients resource health conditions treatment options however health information internet remains unregulated varies quality accuracy readability objective study determine quality pain websites explain variability quality readability pain websites methods five key terms pain chronic pain back pain arthritis fibromyalgia entered google yahoo msn search engines websites assessed using discern instrument quality index grade level readability ratings assessed using fleschkincaid readability algorithm univariate using alpha 020 multivariable regression using alpha 005 analyses used explain variability discern scores grade level readability using potential commercial gain health related seals approval languages multimedia features independent variables results total 300 websites assessed 21 excluded accordance exclusion criteria 110 duplicate websites leaving 161 unique sites 68 11161 websites websites offered patients commercial products pain condition 360 58161 websites health related seal approval 758 122161 websites presented information english 404 65161 websites offered interactive multimedia experience assessing quality unique websites maximum score 80 overall average discern score 559 136 readability grade level 109 39 multivariable regressions demonstrated website seals approval p 0015 potential commercial gain p 0189 contributing factors higher discern scores seals approval p 0168 interactive multimedia p 0244 contributed lower grade level readability indicated estimates beta coefficients conclusion overall quality pain websites moderate shortcomings websites scored high using discern questionnaire contained health related seals approval provided commercial solutions pain related conditions low readability levels offered interactive multimedia options endorsed health seals