Vinaya Manchaiah|Ashley L. Dockens|Ashley Gaal Flagge|Monica L. Bellon-Harn|Jamie H. Azios|Rebecca J. Kelly-Campbell|Gerhard Andersson
Quality and Readability of English-Language Internet Information for Tinnitus
Lamar University|Swedish Institute|Linköping University|Manipal Academy of Higher Education|Lamar University|Lamar University|Lamar University|Lamar University|University of Canterbury|Swedish Institute|Linköping University|Karolinska Institutet
wealth information available internet increasing numbers individuals relying websites primary source information healthrelated questions important readability content within comprehension level readersthe study evaluated quality readability englishlanguage internet information tinnitusanalysis internet websites tinnitusa total 134 websites tinnitus informationthree key words ie tinnitus ringing ear buzzing ear entered five countryspecific versions commonly used internet search engine august 2016 15 searches first 20 relevant websites examined removing duplicates total 134 websites assessed origin commercial nonprofit organization government personal university quality health net hon certification discern scores readability flesch reading ease score fleschkincaid reading grade level formula simple measure gobbledygook assessedmost websites commercial 493 nonprofit organization 388 origin quality readability highly variable 135 websites hon certification analysis showed significant association website origin hon certification 4 1329 p 00001 mean discern scores 239 association discern scores website origin found readability measures showed average people least 1012 yr education could read understand internet information tinnitus websites almost websites exceeded stringent reading level recommended health informationthe results highlight great variability quality readability health information specifically tinnitus internet findings underscores need stakeholders eg webdevelopers clinicians aware develop userfriendly health information websites make accessible people low literacy