Accessibility and readability of online patient education on cutaneous lymphomasCapsule Summary
Background: Patients facing a cutaneous lymphoma diagnosis frequently turn to the internet for information but finding patient-accessible education may be a challenge. Objective: To investigate accessibility and readability of patient-oriented online education on cutaneous lymphomas, including cutan...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-12-01
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| Series: | JAAD International |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666328723001177 |
| _version_ | 1797688369317150720 |
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| author | Celine M. Schreidah, BS Lauren M. Fahmy, BS Brigit A. Lapolla, BS Emily R. Gordon, BA Bradley D. Kwinta, MD Larisa J. Geskin, MD |
| author_facet | Celine M. Schreidah, BS Lauren M. Fahmy, BS Brigit A. Lapolla, BS Emily R. Gordon, BA Bradley D. Kwinta, MD Larisa J. Geskin, MD |
| author_sort | Celine M. Schreidah, BS |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Patients facing a cutaneous lymphoma diagnosis frequently turn to the internet for information but finding patient-accessible education may be a challenge. Objective: To investigate accessibility and readability of patient-oriented online education on cutaneous lymphomas, including cutaneous T-cell and B-cell lymphoma subtypes. Methods: This study queried a search engine for 11 cutaneous lymphoma terms, resulting in 1083 webpages. Webpages were screened using defined inclusion/exclusion criteria; literature directed to physicians and scientists was excluded. Webpages were stratified by academic/nonacademic and dermatology/nondermatology hosts and assessed by order of appearance. Readability, including text complexity, was analyzed for grade level understanding using 5 established calculators. Overall readability was assessed by Flesch–Kincaid Reading Ease. Results: Academic webpages had earlier order of appearance. There was a dearth in dermatology-hosted webpages. Rarer cutaneous lymphomas yielded fewer patient-accessible results. Search term readability significantly exceeded the American Medical Association–recommended sixth grade level (P < .001∗), with higher grade levels for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma subtype webpages than cutaneous B-cell lymphoma subtypes. Limitations: Webpage quality, accuracy, and language were not assessed. Conclusion: Current online education for cutaneous lymphomas exceeds the American Medical Association’s maximum readability recommendation. There is a need for more patient-accessible education amidst predominance of scientific literature, greater dermatology host websites, and enhanced readability of existing online education. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:30:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-829a30293a3d4a88bf75f4d0519e6901 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-3287 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:30:22Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JAAD International |
| spelling | doaj.art-829a30293a3d4a88bf75f4d0519e69012023-09-12T04:16:24ZengElsevierJAAD International2666-32872023-12-01138390Accessibility and readability of online patient education on cutaneous lymphomasCapsule SummaryCeline M. Schreidah, BS0Lauren M. Fahmy, BS1Brigit A. Lapolla, BS2Emily R. Gordon, BA3Bradley D. Kwinta, MD4Larisa J. Geskin, MD5Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New YorkColumbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New YorkDepartment of Dermatology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New YorkColumbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New YorkColumbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New YorkDepartment of Dermatology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York; Correspondence to: Larisa J. Geskin, MD, Department of Dermatology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 161 Fort Washington Ave, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10032.Background: Patients facing a cutaneous lymphoma diagnosis frequently turn to the internet for information but finding patient-accessible education may be a challenge. Objective: To investigate accessibility and readability of patient-oriented online education on cutaneous lymphomas, including cutaneous T-cell and B-cell lymphoma subtypes. Methods: This study queried a search engine for 11 cutaneous lymphoma terms, resulting in 1083 webpages. Webpages were screened using defined inclusion/exclusion criteria; literature directed to physicians and scientists was excluded. Webpages were stratified by academic/nonacademic and dermatology/nondermatology hosts and assessed by order of appearance. Readability, including text complexity, was analyzed for grade level understanding using 5 established calculators. Overall readability was assessed by Flesch–Kincaid Reading Ease. Results: Academic webpages had earlier order of appearance. There was a dearth in dermatology-hosted webpages. Rarer cutaneous lymphomas yielded fewer patient-accessible results. Search term readability significantly exceeded the American Medical Association–recommended sixth grade level (P < .001∗), with higher grade levels for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma subtype webpages than cutaneous B-cell lymphoma subtypes. Limitations: Webpage quality, accuracy, and language were not assessed. Conclusion: Current online education for cutaneous lymphomas exceeds the American Medical Association’s maximum readability recommendation. There is a need for more patient-accessible education amidst predominance of scientific literature, greater dermatology host websites, and enhanced readability of existing online education.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666328723001177accessibilitycutaneous B-cell lymphomacutaneous lymphomacutaneous T-cell lymphomadigital healthpatient education |
| spellingShingle | Celine M. Schreidah, BS Lauren M. Fahmy, BS Brigit A. Lapolla, BS Emily R. Gordon, BA Bradley D. Kwinta, MD Larisa J. Geskin, MD Accessibility and readability of online patient education on cutaneous lymphomasCapsule Summary JAAD International accessibility cutaneous B-cell lymphoma cutaneous lymphoma cutaneous T-cell lymphoma digital health patient education |
| title | Accessibility and readability of online patient education on cutaneous lymphomasCapsule Summary |
| title_full | Accessibility and readability of online patient education on cutaneous lymphomasCapsule Summary |
| title_fullStr | Accessibility and readability of online patient education on cutaneous lymphomasCapsule Summary |
| title_full_unstemmed | Accessibility and readability of online patient education on cutaneous lymphomasCapsule Summary |
| title_short | Accessibility and readability of online patient education on cutaneous lymphomasCapsule Summary |
| title_sort | accessibility and readability of online patient education on cutaneous lymphomascapsule summary |
| topic | accessibility cutaneous B-cell lymphoma cutaneous lymphoma cutaneous T-cell lymphoma digital health patient education |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666328723001177 |
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