Assessing the understandability, actionability, and quality of online resources for the self-management of bipolar disorder

Evaluation of the understandability, actionability and reliability of YouTube videos for brain, head, and neck cancer information

PURPOSE

Online videos accessed via YouTube are a popular method to provide health education. Videos need to be critically evaluated for educational qualities as the information could influence health outcomes. The present study aimed to evaluate the understandability, actionability and reliability of videos available on YouTube regarding brain, head, and neck cancer information.

METHODS

A scoping review was conducted with a specific search strategy and inclusion/exclusion criteria based on previous studies. For each video, video characteristics and user engagement activities were recorded. Videos were evaluated using the PEMAT-A/V and modified DISCERN criteria. Spearman's rank correlation, Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for analysis.

RESULTS

Out of 200 retrieved videos, 37 were included and analysed. The median length of the video was 3 min and 33 s. The majority of videos were published by health institutional and private channels (43.2%, n = 16). Health institutional channels received the highest actionability (Md = 37.5, p = 0.049), while private channels resulted in lower views/day (Md = 0.46, p = 0.001) and likes/day (Md = 0.01, p = 0.002). Animated and narrated videos acquired the highest understandability score (Md = 92.31, p < 0.001). Videos with professional transcripts reported higher actionability (Md = 62.5, p = 0.004), reliability (Md = 3.33, p = 0.028), views/day (Md = 29.31, p = 0.026), and likes/day (Md = 0.272, p = 0.023).

CONCLUSION

YouTube videos pertaining to brain and head and neck cancer have low understandability, low actionability and moderate reliability. It is beneficial to have a stronger representation of trustworthy and credible organisations for sharing essential health information via YouTube. Including animations and professional video transcripts may improve their overall quality and consumer engagement.

An evaluation of readability and understandability of online education materials for breast cancer survivors

PURPOSE

We aimed to determine the availability of existing web-based educational materials on breast cancer survivorship and assess their readability and understandability.

METHODS

We identified materials eligible for review in two ways: (1) reviews of websites of major cancer-related organizations (e.g., American Cancer Society); (2) Google searches for breast cancer survivorship, breast cancer, breast cancer follow-up care, and cancer survivorship. We measured Flesch-Kincaid and New Dale Readability of existing breast cancer and breast cancer survivorship materials. Readability grade levels 5 to 8 were considered ideal to acceptable. We used the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) to measure the understandability of 53 videos and 152 written materials, such as booklets and manuals. A resource was considered understandable and/or actionable if it scored ≥ 70% on either the understandability section or the actionability section of the PEMAT.

RESULTS

We identified a total of 205 existing materials including brochures, booklets, facts sheets, websites, and videos in English. The average Flesch-Kincaid grade score of written educational materials was 9.7 (range 3.5-16.4), which translates to a 9th grade reading level. According to the New Dale-Chall readability assessment, most of the materials were in the 9 to 10 grade level range. The average PEMAT score was 88.6% (range 56-100%).

CONCLUSION

Patient educational materials are available online as printable, written materials, and videos and they focus on a wide selection of survivorship-related topics. Most of the breast cancer educational materials that are available online were above an 8th grade reading level. The PEMAT results, however, suggest that materials are easy to understand regarding word choice and style, use of numbers, organization, layout and design, and use of visual aids.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

Understandable patient education materials are essential for guiding breast cancer survivors towards improving their health outcomes and optimizing their quality of life.

Can popular magazines educate people with depression? An investigation of articles' understandability, reliability, and actionability

Objective

to evaluate articles on depression published in popular magazines with respect to understandability, reliability, and actionability. To determine whether these articles can educate patients. To investigate whether the Clear Communication Index (CCI), developed to assess the quality of patient education materials produced by the medical sector, can be used to evaluate articles published in popular magazines.

Methods

The sample consists of 81 articles from 24 different Flemish and Dutch popular magazines. The articles were evaluated using the CCI. Correlational and t-test analyses were performed on the data.

Results

No more than one-fifth of all articles were found to be of quality. Significant positive correlations were found between actionability, reliability, and understandability. No significant differences were found between health magazines and other more generally oriented magazines.

Conclusion

Overall, our findings demonstrate the relative lack of power as patient educational materials of articles on depression published in popular magazines for people with low or average mental health literacy levels.

Innovation

Using the Clear Communication Index, the quality of Dutch medium popular magazine articles on depression are analyzed. The study design allowed for the comparison of different types of magazines. Health magazines do no score better than generally-focused magazines.