University of Glasgow|University of Glasgow|University of Glasgow|University of Glasgow
background general practice websites increasingly important point interaction readability largely unexplored one four adults struggle basic literacy socioeconomic gradient readable content prerequisite promoting health literacy aim assess general practice website readability analysing text design factors assess whether practices adapted website text likely literacy levels populations design setting websites general practices across scotland analysed march december 2019 using crosssectional design method text extracted five webpages per website eight text readability factors measured including flesch reading ease fleschkincaid grade level relationship readability practice populations level deprivation measured using scottish index multiple deprivation simd assessed overall 10 design factors contributing readability accessibility scored results total 864 n 813941 scottish practices website 229 n 8743823 webpages written governmentrecommended reading level online content 914 years old content remaining websites 771 n 29493823 suitable higher reading age webpages 805 n 30773823 recommended level easytounderstand plain english statistically significant association webpage reading age simd 67 n 51764 websites achieved design accessibility recommendations conclusion changes practice websites could improve readability promote health literacy practices need financial resources ongoing technical support achieved maintained failure provide readable accessible websites may widen health inequalities topic become increasingly important online service use accelerates