Readability of websites containing information about prostate cancer treatment options.
OBJECTIVE
Approximately 90 million American adults have literacy skills that test below a high school reading level. Websites written above this level can pose a challenge for those seeking online information about prostate cancer treatment options. In this study we determine the readability of selected websites using a systematic search process and validated readability formulas.


METHODS
We identified the 3 most popular keywords from 513 terms related to prostate cancer treatment options. We then systematically collected 270 websites from the top 3 search engines, and excluded from study those that were nonEnglish, not primarily text, irrelevant and/or duplicated. We used the Flesch-Kincaid grade level and Flesch Reading Ease to determine scores for each site.


RESULTS
A total of 62 unique websites were analyzed. Median Flesch-Kincaid grade level was 12.0 (range 8.0 to 12.0) and median Flesch Reading Ease score was 38.1 (range 0.0 to 65.5). Only 3 sites (4.8%) were written below a high school reading level (less than 9.0).


CONCLUSIONS
Few websites with discussions on prostate cancer treatment options are written below a high school reading level. This is problematic for a third of Americans who seek to further educate themselves using online resources. Clinicians can use this information to guide their patients to appropriate websites.
Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois, USA. cellimoottil@lumc.edu
Chandy
C
Ellimoottil
Anthony
A
Polcari
Adam
A
Kadlec
Gopal
G
Gupta
D000328:Adult; D032882:Comprehension; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D004522:Educational Status; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms