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4AA eLearning courses
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Department of Medical Education, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The aims of this study were to evaluate the quality and accuracy of websites written to the public on inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) and assess their readability level.
Using the following search words: “Inflammatory bowel disease”, “Crohn’s disease”, and “Ulcerative colitis”, Google,TM Bing,TM and YahooTM search engines were searched independently by three researchers in December 2014. Only English-language websites were selected on the basis of the study inclusion and exclusion criteria (Box 1). Researchers independently evaluated the quality of each website by using the DISCERN1 and the HONcode2 instruments. Readability3 was calculated by the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level Index, and the Coleman-Liau Readability Index. The agreement between the evaluators was calculated using Cohen kappa coefficient.4
Although websites varied in regard to their DISCERN and HONcode scores, no significant differences were found on the bases of the creators. However, the readability level was above the readability level of the public.5
Websites on inflammatory bowel disease can be an educational resource to the public. However, the readability level needs to be adjusted at the public level.
90 websites were finally identified (Figure 1). No significant differences were found between websites created by universities, research centres, professional societies and educational bodies when compared with those created by charities, commercial, and pharmaceutical companies as per the DISCERN instrument (mean score±SD) 43.5±12.6 vs 40.4±8.0; p =0.916) and the HONcode instrument (mean score±SD) 52.3±20.4 vs 40.0±17.7; p =0.233), respectively (Table 1). The Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level readability score was 12.03±1.82 and the Coleman-Liau Readability Index score was 12.55±1.55. The overall agreement between evaluators had Cohen kappa scores in range of 0.804-0.876.
Figure 1 Resultes of searching three search engines Google,TM Bing,TM and YahooTM and selection procedure for the study.
Table 1 Comparing websites on inflammatory bowel disease using the DISCERN and HONcode instruments; the significance of creators.
The College of Medicine Research Center, Deanship of Scientific Research, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
1- Charnock D.The DISCERN handbook: Quality Criteria for Consumer Health Information.Radcliffe Medical Press.1998 Available at: http://www.discern.org.uk Accessed August 11, 2015
2- Health on the Net Foundation. Available at: http://www.hon.ch Accessed August 11, 2015
3- Friedman DB, Hoffman-Goetz L, Arocha JF. Health literacy and the World Wide Web: comparing the readability of leading incident cancers on the Internet. Med Inform Internet Med. 2006; 31:67-87
4- Hanney WJ, George SZ, Kolber MJ, Young I, Salamh PA, Cleland JA.Inter-rater reliability of select physical examination
5- Walsh M, Volsko TA. Readability assessment of internet based consumer health information. Respir Care. 2008; 53:1310-1315.
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