Investigation of Readability and Quality Levels of Online Patient Information Texts Related to Jaw Cysts

Aim: The internet is frequently utilized as a resource for accessing health-related information, contributing significantly to health literacy. With the proliferation of internet usage, it has become evident that the majority of hospitals maintain websites, which serve as platforms for disseminating information to individuals regarding healthcare professionals, medical conditions, and treatment options. This study aims to assess the readability and quality of patient information texts about jaw cysts available on the internet. Materials and Methods: In May 2023, patient information texts relating to "jaw cysts" from 62 out of the initial 120 websites retrieved through the Google search engine (Google LLC, Mountain View, California, USA) were assessed for readability and quality. Readability levels of the texts were determined using the "ARI(ARI)", while the quality assessment was conducted utilizing the DISCERN scale. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 23 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: According to the ARI, 50% (31 websites) of the patient information texts available on the internet were assessed at the 11-12 grade level, with 85.5% (53 websites) categorized as of medium difficulty. Additionally, based on the DISCERN scale assessment, 46.7% (29 websites) of the texts were rated as poor in quality. Conclusion: In the creation of patient information texts concerning jaw cysts on the internet, it is imperative to take into account our society's health literacy levels. There is a pressing need for the development of higher quality and more readable texts to effectively disseminate information to the public.