Readability and Understandability of Turkish Migraine Websites: An Evaluation of Fifty Online Resources

Aim: Online health information can only benefit patients if it is presented in language they can easily read and understand. Migraine is a common neurological disorder in Türkiye, but the readability of Turkish-language migraine websites has been uncertain. This study evaluated 50 Turkish migraine websites spanning hospitals, professional associations, media, physician blogs, health portals, and encyclopedic sources. Textual readability was measured using three established Turkish formulas, and each site’s language and layout were qualitatively reviewed. Methods: For each site, readability scores were calculated with the Ateşman Reading Ease (Turkish Flesch adaptation), the Çetinkaya–Uzun formula, and the Bezirci–Yılmaz grade-level index. Scores were interpreted by standard difficulty bands (e.g., “easy” vs “difficult”), and structural features (sentence length, medical jargon, use of headings, lists, Q&A format) that could affect understandability were noted. Results: Overall readability was poor. None of the 50 sites were classified as “easy” to read; approximately 75% fell into “difficult” or “very difficult” ranges, indicating they demand advanced reading skills. Hospital and professional association pages had especially low readability, often equivalent to a high-school or college reading level. Even the relatively simpler media articles and health portal pages were only “moderately difficult,” above the recommended middle-school level. Conclusion: The current readability of Turkish migraine websites is unacceptably low, with most content requiring at least a high-school education to comprehend. To better serve patients, Turkish health websites should be rewritten and redesigned with clarity in mind.