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Das S, Singh S, Kaur G, Sharma S. Quality of patient-oriented online information on treatment of dementia: A comparative assessment of web pages in English and Hindi language. Indian J Psychiatry 2024; 66:352-359. [PMID: 38778845 PMCID: PMC11107923 DOI: 10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_506_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Management of dementia involves a multidisciplinary approach which also requires active participation from family members and caregivers. Thus, having easy access to information about dementia care is pertinent. Internet-based information is an emerging method for the same. Aim To perform a comparative assessment of patient-oriented online information available on treatment of dementia over web pages in English and Hindi language. Methods Observational study was conducted online through a general internet search engine (www.google.com). Web pages containing patient-oriented online information on treatment of dementia in English and Hindi were reviewed to assess their content and quality, esthetics, and interactivity. Appropriate descriptive and inferential statistics were conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Results A total of 70 web pages met the eligibility criteria. Content quality assessed using the DISCERN score was significantly higher for English web pages compared to Hindi web pages (P < 0.01). About 72.4% (21/29) of English and only 9.8% (4/41) of Hindi web pages had a total DISCERN score of 40 or above, indicating good quality. For esthetics, the median score for English pages was significantly higher than for Hindi web pages (P < 0.01). The web pages with Health On Net (HON) certification had significantly better content quality. Conclusion Our study revealed a scarcity of good quality online information about dementia and its treatment, especially in the Hindi language. English language websites showed better content quality than Hindi websites. HON Code label might be used as an indicator of better content quality for online resources informing on dementia treatment by lay people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhash Das
- Department of Psychiatry, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences, Shillong, Meghalaya, India
- Formerly at Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India
| | - Swarndeep Singh
- Formerly at Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India
- Department of Psychiatry, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi, India
| | - Gurneet Kaur
- Department of Psychiatry, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India
| | - Sanya Sharma
- Department of Psychiatry, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India
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Zhu Y, Song T, Zhang Z, Yu P. Developing an Instrument to Evaluate the Quality of Dementia Websites. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:3163. [PMID: 38132053 PMCID: PMC10742665 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11243163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In today's digital era, health information, especially for conditions like dementia, is crucial. This study aims to develop an instrument, demenTia wEbsite measSurement insTrument (TEST), through four steps: identifying existing instruments, determining criteria, selecting and revising measurement statements, and validating the instrument from March to August 2020. Five health informatics experts used the content validity ratio (CVR) test for validation. Thirteen evaluators compared Fleiss Kappa and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values across four dementia websites using TEST and another tool, DISCERN. TEST consists of seven criteria and 25 measurement statements focusing on content quality (relevance, credibility, currency) and user experience (accessibility, interactivity, attractiveness, privacy). CVR = 1 confirmed all statements as essential. The TEST demonstrated stronger consistency and assessor agreement compared to DISCERN, measured by Fleiss Kappa and ICC. Overall, it is a robust tool for reliable and user-friendly dementia resources, ensuring health holistic information accessibility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ping Yu
- School of Computing and Information Technology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; (Y.Z.); (T.S.); (Z.Z.)
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Monnet F, Pivodic L, Dupont C, Dröes RM, Van den Block L. Information on advance care planning on websites of dementia associations in Europe: A content analysis. Aging Ment Health 2023; 27:1821-1831. [PMID: 36420632 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2022.2146051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To gain insight into the advance care planning (ACP) content provided on dementia associations' websites in Europe. METHODS We conducted a content analysis of dementia associations' websites in Europe regarding ACP information, using deductive and inductive approaches and a reference framework derived from two ACP definitions. RESULTS We included 26 dementia associations' websites from 20 countries and one European association, covering 12 languages. Ten websites did not mention ACP. The information on the remaining 16 varied in terms of themes addressed and amount of information. Four explicitly define ACP. Several websites made multiple references to legal frameworks (n = 10, 705 excerpts), choosing legal representatives (n = 12, 274 excerpts), and care and treatment preferences (n = 14, 89 excerpts); while themes such as communication with family (n = 9, 67 excerpts) and professionals (n = 9, 49 excerpts) or identifying personal values (n = 9, 73 excerpts) were mentioned on fewer websites or addressed in fewer excerpts. CONCLUSION ACP content is non-existent in 10 out of 26 dementia associations' websites. On those that have ACP content, legal and medical themes were prominent. It would be beneficial to include more comprehensive ACP information stressing the importance of communication with families and professionals, in line with current ACP conceptualisations framing ACP as an iterative communication process, rather than a documentation-focused exercise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny Monnet
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit (VUB) & Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Family Medicine and Chronic Care, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lara Pivodic
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit (VUB) & Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Family Medicine and Chronic Care, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Charlèss Dupont
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit (VUB) & Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Family Medicine and Chronic Care, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Rose-Marie Dröes
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, location VUmc/Amsterdam Public Health Research institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lieve Van den Block
- End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit (VUB) & Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Family Medicine and Chronic Care, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
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Characterizing the symptom of misplacing objects in people with dementia: findings from an online tracking tool. Int Psychogeriatr 2019; 31:1635-1641. [PMID: 30698122 DOI: 10.1017/s104161021800220x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Misplacing objects is often reported as a clinically important symptom in dementia. Here we explored misplacing objects in relation to dementia type and stage in an online sample of individuals with dementia and their caregivers. METHODS Participants were recruited from www.dementiaguide.com, a web-based tracker for common dementia symptoms. Users provided information about symptoms that they selected as important for monitoring. We analysed cross-sectional data from respondents who tracked at least three symptoms, which allowed for staging dementia severity. RESULTS Of 2,775 users with three-plus symptoms, 787 (28%) identified misplacing objects for symptom tracking. Misplacing objects was monitored by users across all stages of dementia, but was more prevalent in mild and severe dementia. Three common clinical subtypes of misplacing were investigated: lost & found (forgetting the location of items), hidden away (hiding items so others would not find them), and odd places (putting items in usual spots). Of the 787, 96% targeted lost & found, the most frequent type. Odd places (targeted in 56%) significantly increased with dementia severity (p < 0.001). Misplacing objects was most strongly associated with the symptoms of interaction with strangers (OR 4.60, 95% CI: 3.20-6.62), reading (3.68: 2.86-4.73), shopping (3.55: 2.73-4.61) and travel/vacationing (3.31: 2.54-4.31). CONCLUSIONS Misplacing objects was most often selected for tracking in mild and severe stages of dementia. As disease advances, misplacing more often reflects odd placement of objects rather than their simple loss. Misplacing objects may be a clinically important therapeutic target for improving patients' quality of life and lessening caregiver burden.
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Warrick N, Prorok JC, Seitz D. Care of community-dwelling older adults with dementia and their caregivers. CMAJ 2019; 190:E794-E799. [PMID: 29970368 DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.170920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Warrick
- Cancer Care Ontario (Warrick, Prorok, Seitz); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Warrick), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; School of Public Health and Health Systems (Prorok), University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ont.; Department of Psychiatry (Seitz), Queen's University, Kingston, Ont
| | - Jeanette C Prorok
- Cancer Care Ontario (Warrick, Prorok, Seitz); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Warrick), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; School of Public Health and Health Systems (Prorok), University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ont.; Department of Psychiatry (Seitz), Queen's University, Kingston, Ont
| | - Dallas Seitz
- Cancer Care Ontario (Warrick, Prorok, Seitz); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Warrick), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; School of Public Health and Health Systems (Prorok), University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ont.; Department of Psychiatry (Seitz), Queen's University, Kingston, Ont.
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Rockwood K, Sanon Aigbogun M, Stanley J, Wong H, Dunn T, Chapman CAT, Howlett SE, Miguelez M, McGarrigle L, Baker RA. The Symptoms Targeted for Monitoring in a Web-Based Tracking Tool by Caregivers of People With Dementia and Agitation: Cross-Sectional Study. J Med Internet Res 2019; 21:e13360. [PMID: 31254339 PMCID: PMC6625216 DOI: 10.2196/13360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In people with dementia, neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs), especially agitation, are associated with worse quality of life and caregiver burden. As NPSs may vary with illness severity, knowledge of how people with dementia and their caregivers describe and rate the importance of agitation symptoms can improve the understanding of the clinical meaningfulness of the manifestations of agitation. The internet provides new opportunities to better understand patient experiences, as patients and caregivers increasingly look to Web-based platforms as a means of managing symptoms. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine Web-based reports from a dementia symptom website to better understand the symptoms of agitation and explore how they are being targeted for monitoring by caregivers of people with dementia. METHODS The Dementia Guide website hosts a Web-based database used by caregivers (97%) and people with dementia (3%). From its 61 dementia symptoms, users can select relevant symptoms that they deem important to monitor or track the effects of treatment. We employed a staging algorithm to determine if individuals had mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild, moderate, or severe dementia. Agitation was defined using terms consistent with the International Psychogeriatrics Association's provisional consensus definition. We compared the proportion of people with NPSs and agitation across stages of dementia severity and studied how many agitation-defining descriptors were selected, and how often they occurred, by stage. RESULTS As of March 2017, 4121 people had used the tracking tool, of whom 2577 provided sufficient data to allow disease severity staging. NPSs were tracked by 2127/2577 (82.54%) and agitation by 1898/2577 (73.65%). The proportion in whom agitation was tracked increased with increasing cognitive impairment: 68.5% (491/717) in people with MCI, and 72.50% (754/1040), 73.3% (378/516), and 90.5% (275/304) in mild, moderate, and severe dementia, respectively (χ23=54.9; P<.001). The number of NPS and agitation descriptors selected also increased with severity (median number of NPSs=1, 2, 2, and 3 for MCI, mild, moderate, and severe dementia, respectively, Kruskal-Wallis H Test H3=250.47; P<.001; median number of agitation descriptors=1, 2, 3, and 4, H3=146.11; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS NPSs and agitation are common targets for tracking over the course of dementia and appear more frequently with increasing disease severity. These common and distressing symptoms represent clinically meaningful targets in treating people with dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Rockwood
- Geriatric Medicine Research Unit, Halifax, NS, Canada.,DGI Clinical Inc, Halifax, NS, Canada.,Division of Geriatric Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Susan E Howlett
- DGI Clinical Inc, Halifax, NS, Canada.,Division of Geriatric Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Maia Miguelez
- Otsuka Canada Pharmaceutical Inc, Saint-Laurent, QC, Canada
| | - Lisa McGarrigle
- Geriatric Medicine Research Unit, Halifax, NS, Canada.,DGI Clinical Inc, Halifax, NS, Canada.,Division of Geriatric Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Ross A Baker
- Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization Inc, Princeton, NJ, United States
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Understanding the educational and support needs of informal care-givers of people with dementia attending an outpatient geriatric assessment clinic. AGEING & SOCIETY 2018. [DOI: 10.1017/s0144686x18000971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
AbstractInformal (unpaid) care-givers of older people with dementia experience stress and isolation, causing physical and psychiatric morbidity. Comprehensive geriatric assessment clinics represent an important geriatrician-led model of dementia care. Our qualitative study examined the educational and support needs of care-givers of people diagnosed with dementia at a geriatric assessment clinic, resources used to address those needs and challenges experienced in doing so. We conducted structured thematic analysis of interviews with 18 informal care-givers. Participants’ narratives reflected four themes. First, care-givers sought information from varied sources, including the Alzheimer Society, the internet and clinic staff. Responsive behaviours, the expected progression of dementia and system navigation were topics of particular interest. Second, care-givers obtained assistance from public, for-profit and voluntary sources. Third, care-givers received little assistance. Two-thirds received fewer than four hours of help weekly from all sources combined, and none more than 15. Several received no assistance whatsoever. Publicly funded support workers’ tasks, and their timing, were often unhelpful. Finally, while numerous care-givers felt physical and emotional strain, and worried about how poor health impaired their care-giving, many hesitated to seek help. The needs of this unique population of informal care-givers can be met by improved home-care service flexibility, and access to trustworthy information about the expected progression of dementia and skills for managing behavioural and psychological symptoms.
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O'Connell Ferster AP, Hu A. Evaluating the quality and readability of Internet information sources regarding the treatment of swallowing disorders. EAR, NOSE & THROAT JOURNAL 2017; 96:128-138. [PMID: 28346643 DOI: 10.1177/014556131709600312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The Internet has become a popular resource for patient education. The information it provides, however, is rarely peer-reviewed, and its quality may be a concern. Since the average American reads at an 8th grade level, the American Medical Association and the National Institutes of Health have recommended that health information be written at a 4th to 6th grade level. We performed a study to assess the quality and readability of online information regarding the treatment of swallowing disorders. A Google search for "swallowing treatment" was conducted. We studied the first 50 websites that appeared on the search engine's results with the use of the DISCERN quality index tool, the Flesch Ease of Reading Score (FRES), and the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) readability test. DISCERN is a validated 16-item questionnaire used to assess the quality of written health information; FRES and FKGL are used to assess readability. We classified the websites as either patient-targeted or professional-targeted sites, as well as either major or minor. The overall DISCERN score was 1.61 ± 0.61 (range: 1 to 5), the overall FRES was 39.1 ± 19.0 (range: 1 to 100), and the overall FKGL was 11.8 ± 3.4 (range: 3 to 12). As would be expected, patient-targeted websites had significantly higher FRES and significantly lower FKGL scores than did the professional-targeted websites (p = 0.01 and p = 0.04, respectively); there was no significant difference between the two in DISCERN scores. The major websites had significantly higher DISCERN scores than did the minor sites (p = 0.002); there were no significant differences in FRES and FKGL scores. We conclude that online information sources regarding the treatment of swallowing disorders were of suboptimal quality in that information was written at a level too difficult for the average American to easily understand. Also, the patient-targeted websites were written at a lower reading level, and the major websites contained a higher quality of information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley P O'Connell Ferster
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Dr., Hershey, PA 17033.
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Hunter P, Delbaere M, O’Connell ME, Cammer A, Seaton JX, Friedrich T, Fick F. Did online publishers "get it right"? Using a naturalistic search strategy to review cognitive health promotion content on internet webpages. BMC Geriatr 2017; 17:125. [PMID: 28619010 PMCID: PMC5472889 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-017-0515-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2016] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND One of the most common uses of the Internet is to search for health-related information. Although scientific evidence pertaining to cognitive health promotion has expanded rapidly in recent years, it is unclear how much of this information has been made available to Internet users. Thus, the purpose of our study was to assess the reliability and quality of information about cognitive health promotion encountered by typical Internet users. METHODS To generate a list of relevant search terms employed by Internet users, we entered seed search terms in Google Trends and recorded any terms consistently used in the prior 2 years. To further approximate the behaviour of typical Internet users, we entered each term in Google and sampled the first two relevant results. This search, completed in October 2014, resulted in a sample of 86 webpages, 48 of which had content related to cognitive health promotion. An interdisciplinary team rated the information reliability and quality of these webpages using a standardized measure. RESULTS We found that information reliability and quality were moderate, on average. Just one retrieved page mentioned best practice, national recommendations, or consensus guidelines by name. Commercial content (i.e., product promotion, advertising content, or non-commercial) was associated with differences in reliability and quality, with product promoter webpages having the lowest mean reliability and quality ratings. CONCLUSIONS As efforts to communicate the association between lifestyle and cognitive health continue to expand, we offer these results as a baseline assessment of the reliability and quality of cognitive health promotion on the Internet.
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Affiliation(s)
- P.V. Hunter
- St. Thomas More College, University of Saskatchewan, 1437 College Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7M 0W6 Canada
| | - M. Delbaere
- Edwards School of Business, University of Saskatchewan, 25 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A7 Canada
| | - M. E. O’Connell
- Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, 9 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A5 Canada
| | - A. Cammer
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, 110 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C9 Canada
| | - J. X. Seaton
- Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Saskatchewan, 176 Thorvaldson Building, 110 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C9 Canada
| | - T. Friedrich
- Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, 9 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A5 Canada
| | - F. Fick
- Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, 9 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A5 Canada
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Online tools can be used by people with dementia and their caregivers to self-identify and track troubling symptoms, such as verbal repetition. We aimed to explore verbal repetition behaviors in people with dementia. METHODS Participants were recruited via an online resource for people with dementia and their caregivers. Respondents were instructed to complete information about symptoms that are most important to them for tracking over time. In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed data pertaining to individuals with dementia who had at least three symptoms selected for tracking. RESULTS Of the 3,573 participants who began a user profile, 1,707 fulfilled criteria for analysis. Verbal repetition was identified as a treatment target in 807 respondents (47.3%). Verbal repetition was more frequent in individuals with mild dementia compared to those with moderate and severe dementia (57.2% vs. 36.0% and 39.9%, p < 0.01) and in those with Alzheimer's disease versus other dementias (65.2% vs. 29.7%, p < 0.001). Repetitive questioning was the most frequent type of verbal repetition (90.5% of individuals with verbal repetition). Verbal repetition was most strongly associated with difficulties operating gadgets/appliances (OR 3.65, 95%CI: 2.82-4.72), lack of interest and/or initiative (3.52: 2.84-4.36), misplacing or losing objects (3.25: 2.64-4.01), and lack of attention and/or concentration (2.62: 2.12-3.26). CONCLUSIONS Verbal repetition is a common symptom in people at all stages of dementia but is most commonly targeted for monitoring and treatment effects in its mild stage. Much research is required to further elucidate the underlying mechanisms and the effect of different treatment strategies.
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Taki S, Campbell KJ, Russell CG, Elliott R, Laws R, Denney-Wilson E. Infant Feeding Websites and Apps: A Systematic Assessment of Quality and Content. Interact J Med Res 2015; 4:e18. [PMID: 26420339 PMCID: PMC4704960 DOI: 10.2196/ijmr.4323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2015] [Revised: 04/24/2015] [Accepted: 05/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Internet websites and smartphone apps have become a popular resource to guide parents in their children’s feeding and nutrition. Given the diverse range of websites and apps on infant feeding, the quality of information in these resources should be assessed to identify whether consumers have access to credible and reliable information. Objective This systematic analysis provides perspectives on the information available about infant feeding on websites and smartphone apps. Methods A systematic analysis was conducted to assess the quality, comprehensibility, suitability, and readability of websites and apps on infant feeding using a developed tool. Google and Bing were used to search for websites from Australia, while the App Store for iOS and Google Play for Android were used to search for apps. Specified key words including baby feeding, breast feeding, formula feeding and introducing solids were used to assess websites and apps addressing feeding advice. Criteria for assessing the accuracy of the content were developed using the Australian Infant Feeding Guidelines. Results A total of 600 websites and 2884 apps were screened, and 44 websites and 46 apps met the selection criteria and were analyzed. Most of the websites (26/44) and apps (43/46) were noncommercial, some websites (10/44) and 1 app were commercial and there were 8 government websites; 2 apps had university endorsement. The majority of the websites and apps were rated poor quality. There were two websites that had 100% coverage of information compared to those rated as fair or poor that had low coverage. Two-thirds of the websites (65%) and almost half of the apps (47%) had a readability level above the 8th grade level. Conclusions The findings of this unique analysis highlight the potential for website and app developers to merge user requirements with evidence-based content to ensure that information on infant feeding is of high quality. There are currently no apps available to consumers that address a variety of infant feeding topics. To keep up with the rapid turnover of the evolving technology, health professionals need to consider developing an app that will provide consumers with a credible and reliable source of information about infant feeding, using quality assessment tools and evidence-based content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Taki
- Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer often seek information on the Internet to help them make treatment decisions. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality of Web-based patient information regarding surgery for colorectal cancer. DESIGN This study is a cross-sectional survey of patient-directed Web sites. SETTINGS The search engine Google (Mountain View, CA) and the search terms "colorectal cancer surgery," "colon cancer surgery," and "rectal cancer surgery" were used to identify Web sites. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES To assess quality, we used the DISCERN instrument, a validated questionnaire developed to analyze written consumer health information on treatment options to aid consumers in evaluating the quality of health-related information on treatment choices for a specific health problem. An additional colorectal cancer-specific questionnaire was used to evaluate Web site content for colorectal cancer surgical treatment. Two independent assessors reviewed each Web site. RESULTS Searches revealed a total of 91 distinct Web sites, of which 37 met inclusion criteria. Web site affiliation was as follows: 32% open-access general information, 24% hospital/health care organization, and 19% professional medical society. Twelve (32.4%) Web sites had clear aims, 10 (27.0%) had identifiable references to their sources of information, and 9 (24.3%) noted the date of published information. Ten sites (27.0%) provided some description of the surgical procedure, 8 (21.6%) discussed either the risks or the benefits of surgery, and 4 (10.8%) addressed quality-of-life issues. Nineteen (51.4%) Web sites discussed postoperative complications, and 7 (18.9%) discussed stoma-related maintenance/care. LIMITATIONS The small sample size and interrater reliability bias are limitations of this study. CONCLUSIONS The quality of online patient information regarding colorectal cancer treatment is highly variable, often incomplete, and does not adequately convey the information necessary for patients to make well-informed medical decisions regarding treatment for colorectal cancer. An opportunity exists for professional medical societies to create more comprehensive online patient information materials that may serve as a resource to physicians and their patients (see Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/DCR/A122).
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