A Critical Assessment of the Quality and Readability of Information on Gastric Cancer Available on the Internet for Patients

Introduction It is now commonplace for patients to consult the internet with health-related questions. Unfortunately, the quality of information provided to them online is highly variable. Ensuring that patients get high-quality, reliable information is essential for all pathologies. Gastric cancer (GC), with its often subtle early symptoms and signs, is one such pathology where early identification is crucial. Ensuring high-quality information availability online for GC is thus essential to increasing rates of early detection. Aims This study aimed to assess the quality and readability of information posted on websites related to GC. Materials and methods We applied the search term "gastric cancer" or "stomach cancer" to the top three search engines, namely Google, Yahoo, and Bing. Using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, we identified 20 unique websites posting information related to gastric cancer (GC). We then assessed the quality and readability of the information posted on these websites. We used recognized tools to complete these assessments, including the JAMA benchmark criteria, the DISCERN tool, the Flesch Reading Ease score (FRES), and the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL). We also developed and used a novel GC-specific content assessment tool. Furthermore, we assessed whether or not each website was awarded the Health on the Internet Seal of Approval. Results The average JAMA score was 1.55, with none of the twenty unique websites scoring the maximum 4 points. The average DISCERN score was 54.8 (68.5%), with no website achieving the maximum of 80. The HON seal was present in only six websites (30%). The average GCSCS score was 11, with only five websites achieving a maximum score of 13 (25%). The average FRES and FKGL were 52.7 and 9.7, respectively. Conclusion Our study underscores the critical need for more high-quality, reliable information about GC online. We also emphasize the importance of ensuring this information is comprehensible to most patients, as it directly impacts their health outcomes.