Content, Readability, and Accountability of Freely Available Online Information for Patients Regarding Epiretinal Membranes

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To assess content, readability, and accountability of online information for patients regarding epiretinal membranes (ERMs).

Methods

Cross-sectional study evaluating nine major medical websites on ERMs. Fifteen questions assessed patient-relevant content. Four indices estimated U.S. grade literacy level of the text. JAMA benchmarks (authorship, attribution, disclosure, currency) evaluated website accountability.

Results

Average content score was 36.78 (SD 13.91, 95% CI ±0.64) from a possible maximum of 60, with significant variability between websites (H = 22.68, p=0.004). Mean reading grade level was 12.29 (SD 2.30, 95% CI ±1.50). No website achieved all JAMA benchmarks; only one website fulfilled three of the four. Content score did not correlate with Google rank (order of listed websites, r = −0.23, p=0.55) or JAMA benchmarks (r = 0.19, p=0.62) but significantly correlated with mean reading grade (r = 0.67, p=0.05).

Conclusion

Online information regarding ERMs varies significantly, may not adequately answer common patient questions, and is written at too complex a literacy level for the average patient.

KEYWORDS:

• Consumer health informatics
• epiretinal membrane
• internet
• patient education

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Dr Jayanth Sridhar is a consultant for Alcon, Alimera Sciences, Inc., Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Oxurion. Dr Ajay E. Kuriyan is a consultant for Allergan plc, Alimera Sciences, Inc., Bausch Health Companies, Inc., Genentech, Inc., Novartis International AG, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Second Sight. Dr Nicolas A. Yannuzzi is a consultant for Genentech, Inc. and Novartis International AG. None of the other authors report any disclosures.

Additional information

Funding

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute received funding from the NIH Core Grant P30EY014801, Department of Defense Grant #W81XWH-13-1-0048, and a Research to Prevent Blindness Unrestricted Grant. The sponsors or funding organizations had no role in the design or conduct of this research.