Dataset Information

Content and Quality of Websites for Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: An Environmental Scan.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Although numerous websites for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are available, little is known about their content and quality.

Objective

To evaluate the quality of CKD websites, and the degree to which they align with information needs identified by patients with CKD.

Methods

We identified websites by entering "chronic kidney disease" in 3 search engines: Google.com (with regional variants for Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States), Bing.com, and Yahoo.com. We included the first 50 unique English-language sites from each search. We evaluated website content using a 30-point scale comprising 8 priority content domains identified by patients with CKD (understanding CKD, diet, symptoms, medications, mental/physical health, finances, travel, and work/school). We used standardized tools to evaluate usability, reliability, and readability (DISCERN, HONcode, LIDA, Reading Ease, and Reading Grade Level). Two reviewers independently conducted the search, screen, and evaluation.

Results

Of the 2093 websites identified, 115 were included. Overall, sites covered a mean (SD) of 29% (17.8) of the CKD content areas. The proportion of sites covering content related to understanding CKD, symptoms, and diet was highest (97%, 80%, and 72%, respectively). The proportion of sites covering travel, finances, and work/school content was lowest (22%, 12%, and 12%, respectively). The mean (SD) scores for DISCERN, LIDA and HONcode were 68% (14.6), 71% (14.4), and 75% (17.2), respectively, considered above average for usability and reliability. The mean (SD) Reading Grade Level was 10.6 (2.8) and Reading Ease was 49.8 (14.4), suggesting poor readability.

Conclusions

Although many CKD web sites were of reasonable quality, their readability was poor. Furthermore, most sites covered less than 30% of the content patients identified as important for CKD self-management. These results will inform content gaps in internet-accessible information on CKD self-management that should be addressed by future eHealth web-based tools.

SUBMITTER: Smekal M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6668187 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Content and Quality of Websites for Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: An Environmental Scan.

Smekal Michelle M Gil Sarah S Donald Maoliosa M Beanlands Heather H Straus Sharon S Herrington Gwen G Sparkes Dwight D Harwood Lori L Tong Allison A Grill Allan A Tu Karen K Waldvogel Blair B Large Chantel C Large Claire C Novak Marta M James Matthew M Elliott Meghan M Delgado Maria M Brimble Scott S Samuel Susan S Hemmelgarn Brenda R BR

Canadian journal of kidney health and disease 20190730

<h4>Background</h4>Although numerous websites for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are available, little is known about their content and quality.<h4>Objective</h4>To evaluate the quality of CKD websites, and the degree to which they align with information needs identified by patients with CKD.<h4>Methods</h4>We identified websites by entering "chronic kidney disease" in 3 search engines: Google.com (with regional variants for Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United State ...[more]

PMID: 31391944

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Dataset Information

Content and Quality of Websites for Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: An Environmental Scan.

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Content and Quality of Websites for Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: An Environmental Scan.

Similar Datasets

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