bims-librar Biomed News
on Biomedical librarianship
Issue of 2024‒02‒11
twenty-two papers selected by
Thomas Krichel, Open Library Society
  1. Deceived, Confused, or Peer Reviewed? Critical Information Literacy in a First-Year Neuroscience Course.
  2. Developing a Centralized Hub for Research Data Services: Trainings and Resources in Health Sciences Contexts.
  3. Assessment of the quality of online patient-oriented information on robotic colorectal surgery.
  4. Validation of ChatGPT 3.5 as a Tool to Optimize Readability of Patient-facing Craniofacial Education Materials.
  5. ChatGPT Provides Unsatisfactory Responses to Frequently Asked Questions Regarding ACL Reconstruction.
  6. Tumor Immunotherapy-Related Information on Internet-Based Videos Commonly Used by the Chinese Population: Content Quality Analysis.
  7. Assessing the Accuracy and Reliability of AI-Generated Responses to Patient Questions Regarding Spine Surgery.
  8. Comparison of large language models in management advice for melanoma: Google's AI BARD, BingAI and ChatGPT.
  9. The quality, suitability, and readability of web-based resources on endometriosis-associated dyspareunia: A systematic review.
  10. Comprehensiveness of online sources for patient education on otosclerosis.
  11. Evaluation of information from artificial intelligence on rotator cuff repair surgery.
  12. Assessing the Readability of Online English and Spanish Language Patient Education Resources Provided by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, and American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgeons.
  13. Arabic websites assessment of irritable bowel syndrome: How trustworthy are they? A cross-sectional study.
  14. Thyroid Ethanol and Radiofrequency Ablation: A Call for Patient-Friendly Online Resources.
  15. The quality and reliability of patient education regarding sound therapy videos for tinnitus on YouTube.
  16. Assessment of the reliability and quality of breast cancer related videos on TikTok and Bilibili: cross-sectional study in China.
  17. Web-Based Health Information Seeking by People Living With Multiple Sclerosis: Qualitative Investigation of the Multiple Sclerosis Online Course.
  18. Exploring online health information seeking and sharing among older adults: a mini-review about acceptance, potentials, and barriers.
  19. The effect of fear on health information searching behavior during the pandemic: The case of COVID-19.
  20. Search Engine Use for Health-Related Purposes: Behavioral Data on Online Health Information-Seeking in Germany.
  21. The Role of Technology in Online Health Communities: A Study of Information-Seeking Behavior.
  22. Examining the differences of perceptions and experience with online health information accessibility between deaf and hearing individuals: A qualitative study.
  1. J Undergrad Neurosci Educ. 2022 ;20(2): A215-A218
    Deceived, Confused, or Peer Reviewed? Critical Information Literacy in a First-Year Neuroscience Course.
    Helene Gold, Elizabeth Leininger.
      Information literacy skills are necessary to parse today's complex information landscape full of general audience, scholarly, and deceptive sources. For a student new to college and unfamiliar with publishing norms in the discipline, it can be difficult to identify and select from among the range of sources that electronic searches return - especially on Google or Google Scholar, which most students use regularly at the pre-college level. Centering information literacy as a course objective invites students into the scholarly conversation at a deeper level than typical one-off database searching sessions. Further, framing this objective through the lens of critical information literacy engages students in considering how structures of power and privilege direct the production, dissemination, and consumption of scientific research products, including deceptive sources. We, an information literacy librarian and a neuroscience faculty member at a small liberal arts college, have collaborated in developing critical information literacy curricula embedded within an introductory neuroscience course. Here we will briefly describe our motivation, process, and outcomes, and lessons learned from this effort.
    Keywords:  critical information literacy; curriculum development; faculty collaboration; first-year seminar; research instruction
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.59390/BKPW4729
  2. J Escience Librariansh. 2023 ;pii: e642. [Epub ahead of print]12(1):
    Developing a Centralized Hub for Research Data Services: Trainings and Resources in Health Sciences Contexts.
    Peace Ossom Williamson.
      Objectives: In 2021, a new national center was funded by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to build capacity for providing data services within health sciences libraries by coordinating, developing, and disseminating trainings, curricular resources, and curated pathways for learning. Research data services has been a growing service component for health sciences libraries for over a decade, and efforts have come from individuals, professional societies, task forces, and interest groups; however, there is still a great deal of unrealized potential in this area as well as growing needs driven by new requirements from funders and publishers and increasing demand from institutions for data science skills and support for data-related research needs.Methods: The National Center for Data Services (NCDS) was established in July 2021 and is the newest of the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM)'s national offices and centers. NCDS works with the NNLM's seven regional medical libraries and national offices and centers, and draws upon extensive connections with national data and library organizations, all toward the aim of developing capacity for data services in the health information community while centering efforts toward equity, diversity, and accessibility throughout.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.7191/jeslib.642
  3. J Robot Surg. 2024 Feb 08. 18(1): 66
    Assessment of the quality of online patient-oriented information on robotic colorectal surgery.
    Grace Amaefule-Orie, Constantine Ezeme, Trevor Yeung.
      With advances in modern medicine, there is a constant need for accurate and up-to-date readily available information online to ensure patients are well-equipped for informed decision making. This study sets out to analyze websites that provide patient-centered information on robotic colorectal surgery. Three search engines (Google, Yahoo and Firefox) were used with search terms 'robotic colorectal surgery' and the first 20 results on each platform assessed. After screening sites using predetermined criteria, further analysis was performed with the DISCERN questionnaire and Cohen Kappa analysis. Out of the 60 websites identified from the initial search, only 14 websites contained patient information on robotic colorectal surgery. Of these, only three (21%) sites had been updated in the past year and one site was last updated 10 years ago. Ten (71%) websites were affiliated with hospitals and the majority (12, 86%) were based in the United States of America (USA). Approximately half of the websites explored alternative surgical techniques, only three (21%) discussed the risks, a similar number had details on post-operative experience, and none mentioned cost implications, ongoing research or the waiting list involved. Overall, no website had a perfect score of 5 to be classified as good or excellent. There was at least a fair level of agreement (reliability score of > 0.2) in 12 DISCERN criteria (80%), 4 of which were statistically significant. Despite the huge volume of generic information on colorectal surgery, there is still a paucity of comprehensive patient-centered information on robotics as a modality of treatment.
    Keywords:  Internet; Patient information; Robotic; Surgery
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11701-023-01817-2
  4. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2024 Feb;12(2): e5575
    Validation of ChatGPT 3.5 as a Tool to Optimize Readability of Patient-facing Craniofacial Education Materials.
    Medha Vallurupalli, Nikhil D Shah, Raj M Vyas.
      Background: To address patient health literacy, the American Medical Association recommends that readability of patient education materials should not exceed a sixth grade reading level; the National Institutes of Health recommend no greater than an eigth-grade reading level. However, patient-facing materials in plastic surgery often remain at an above-recommended average reading level. The purpose of this study was to evaluate ChatGPT 3.5 as a tool for optimizing patient-facing craniofacial education materials.Methods: Eighteen patient-facing craniofacial education materials were evaluated for readability by a traditional calculator and ChatGPT 3.5. The resulting scores were compared. The original excerpts were then inputted to ChatGPT 3.5 and simplified by the artificial intelligence tool. The simplified excerpts were scored by the calculators.
    Results: The difference in scores for the original excerpts between the online calculator and ChatGPT 3.5 were not significant (P = 0.441). Additionally, the simplified excerpts' scores were significantly lower than the originals (P < 0.001), and the mean of the simplified excerpts was 7.78, less than the maximum recommended 8.
    Conclusions: The use of ChatGPT 3.5 for simplification and readability analysis of patient-facing craniofacial materials is efficient and may help facilitate the conveyance of important health information. ChatGPT 3.5 rendered readability scores comparable to traditional readability calculators, in addition to excerpt-specific feedback. It was also able to simplify materials to the recommended grade levels. With human oversight, we validate this tool for readability analysis and simplification.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000005575
  5. Arthroscopy. 2024 Feb 02. pii: S0749-8063(24)00061-6. [Epub ahead of print]
    ChatGPT Provides Unsatisfactory Responses to Frequently Asked Questions Regarding ACL Reconstruction.
    William L Johns, Brandon J Martinazzi, Benjamin Miltenberg, Hannah H Nam, Sommer Hammoud.
      PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if the free online artificial intelligence platform ChatGPT could accurately, adequately, and appropriately answer questions regarding ACL reconstruction surgery.METHODS: A list of 10 questions about ACL surgery were created based on a review of frequently asked questions that appeared on websites of various orthopaedic institutions. Each question was separately entered into ChatGPT (Version 3.5) and responses were recorded, scored, and graded independently by three authors. Reading level of the ChatGPT response was calculated using the WordCalc software package and readability was assessed using the Flesch-Kincaid grade level, Simple Measure of Gobbledygook index, Coleman-Liau index, Gunning Fog index, and Automated Readability Index.
    RESULTS: Six out of the 10 frequently asked questions entered into ChatGPT were deemed as unsatisfactory and requiring substantial clarification, 1 as adequate and requiring moderate clarification, 1 as adequate and requiring minor clarification, and 2 as satisfactory and requiring minimal clarification. The mean DISCERN Score was 41 (IRR=0.721), indicating the responses to the questions were average. According to the readability assessments, full understanding of the ChatGPT responses required 13.4 years of education, which corresponds to the reading level of a college sophomore.
    CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the ChatGPT-generated responses were outdated and failed to provide an adequate foundation for patient understanding regarding their injury and treatment options. The reading level required to understand the responses was too advanced for some patients, leading to potential misunderstanding and misinterpretation of information. ChatGPT lacks the ability to differentiate and prioritize information that is presented to patients.
    CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Recognizing the shortcomings in artificial intelligence platforms may equip surgeons to better set expectations and provide support for patients considering and preparing for ACL reconstruction.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arthro.2024.01.017
  6. JMIR Form Res. 2024 Feb 07. 8 e50561
    Tumor Immunotherapy-Related Information on Internet-Based Videos Commonly Used by the Chinese Population: Content Quality Analysis.
    Chen-Xu Ni, Yi-Bo Fei, Ran Wu, Wen-Xiang Cao, Wenhao Liu, Fang Huang, Fu-Ming Shen, Dong-Jie Li.
      BACKGROUND: Tumor immunotherapy is an innovative treatment today, but there are limited data on the quality of immunotherapy information on social networks. Dissemination of misinformation through the internet is a major social issue.OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to characterize the quality of information and presence of misinformation about tumor immunotherapy on internet-based videos commonly used by the Chinese population.
    METHODS: Using the keyword "tumor immunotherapy" in Chinese, we searched TikTok, Tencent, iQIYI, and BiliBili on March 5, 2022. We reviewed the 118 screened videos using the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool-a validated instrument to collect consumer health information. DISCERN quality criteria and the JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) Benchmark Criteria were used for assessing the quality and reliability of the health information. The videos' content was also evaluated.
    RESULTS: The 118 videos about tumor immunotherapy were mostly uploaded by channels dedicated to lectures, health-related animations, and interviews; their median length was 5 minutes, and 79% of them were published in and after 2018. The median understandability and actionability of the videos were 71% and 71%, respectively. However, the quality of information was moderate to poor on the validated DISCERN and JAMA assessments. Only 12 videos contained misinformation (score of >1 out of 5). Videos with a doctor (lectures and interviews) not only were significantly less likely to contain misinformation but also had better quality and a greater forwarding number. Moreover, the results showed that more than half of the videos contain little or no content on the risk factors and management of tumor immunotherapy. Overall, over half of the videos had some or more information on the definition, symptoms, evaluation, and outcomes of tumor immunotherapy.
    CONCLUSIONS: Although the quality of immunotherapy information on internet-based videos commonly used by Chinese people is moderate, these videos have less misinformation and better content. Caution must be exercised when using these videos as a source of tumor immunotherapy-related information.
    Keywords:  Chinese; health informatics; immunotherapy; internet videos; misinformation; quality
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.2196/50561
  7. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2024 Feb 09.
    Assessing the Accuracy and Reliability of AI-Generated Responses to Patient Questions Regarding Spine Surgery.
    Viknesh S Kasthuri, Jacob Glueck, Han Pham, Mohammad Daher, Mariah Balmaceno-Criss, Christopher L McDonald, Bassel G Diebo, Alan H Daniels.
      BACKGROUND: In today's digital age, patients increasingly rely on online search engines for medical information. The integration of large language models such as GPT-4 into search engines such as Bing raises concerns over the potential transmission of misinformation when patients search for information online regarding spine surgery.METHODS: SearchResponse.io, a database that archives People Also Ask (PAA) data from Google, was utilized to determine the most popular patient questions regarding 4 specific spine surgery topics: anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, lumbar fusion, laminectomy, and spinal deformity. Bing's responses to these questions, along with the cited sources, were recorded for analysis. Two fellowship-trained spine surgeons assessed the accuracy of the answers on a 6-point scale and the completeness of the answers on a 3-point scale. Inaccurate answers were re-queried 2 weeks later. Cited sources were categorized and evaluated against Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria. Interrater reliability was measured with use of the kappa statistic. A linear regression analysis was utilized to explore the relationship between answer accuracy and the type of source, number of sources, and mean JAMA benchmark score.
    RESULTS: Bing's responses to 71 PAA questions were analyzed. The average completeness score was 2.03 (standard deviation [SD], 0.36), and the average accuracy score was 4.49 (SD, 1.10). Among the question topics, spinal deformity had the lowest mean completeness score. Re-querying the questions that initially had answers with low accuracy scores resulted in responses with improved accuracy. Among the cited sources, commercial sources were the most prevalent. The JAMA benchmark score across all sources averaged 2.63. Government sources had the highest mean benchmark score (3.30), whereas social media had the lowest (1.75).
    CONCLUSIONS: Bing's answers were generally accurate and adequately complete, with incorrect responses rectified upon re-querying. The plurality of information was sourced from commercial websites. The type of source, number of sources, and mean JAMA benchmark score were not significantly correlated with answer accuracy. These findings underscore the importance of ongoing evaluation and improvement of large language models to ensure reliable and informative results for patients seeking information regarding spine surgery online amid the integration of these models in the search experience.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.23.00914
  8. Skin Health Dis. 2024 Feb;4(1): e313
    Comparison of large language models in management advice for melanoma: Google's AI BARD, BingAI and ChatGPT.
    Xin Mu, Bryan Lim, Ishith Seth, Yi Xie, Jevan Cevik, Foti Sofiadellis, David J Hunter-Smith, Warren M Rozen.
      Large language models (LLMs) are emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technology refining research and healthcare. Their use in medicine has seen numerous recent applications. One area where LLMs have shown particular promise is in the provision of medical information and guidance to practitioners. This study aims to assess three prominent LLMs-Google's AI BARD, BingAI and ChatGPT-4 in providing management advice for melanoma by comparing their responses to current clinical guidelines and existing literature. Five questions on melanoma pathology were prompted to three LLMs. A panel of three experienced Board-certified plastic surgeons evaluated the responses for reliability using reliability matrix (Flesch Reading Ease Score, the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level and the Coleman-Liau Index), suitability (modified DISCERN score) and comparing them to existing guidelines. t-Test was performed to calculate differences in mean readability and reliability scores between LLMs and p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The mean readability scores across three LLMs were same. ChatGPT exhibited superiority with a Flesch Reading Ease Score of 35.42 (±21.02), Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level of 11.98 (±4.49) and Coleman-Liau Index of 12.00 (±5.10), however all of these were insignificant (p > 0.05). Suitability-wise using DISCERN score, ChatGPT 58 (±6.44) significantly (p = 0.04) outperformed BARD 36.2 (±34.06) and was insignificant to BingAI's 49.8 (±22.28). This study demonstrates that ChatGPT marginally outperforms BARD and BingAI in providing reliable, evidence-based clinical advice, but they still face limitations in depth and specificity. Future research should improve LLM performance by integrating specialized databases and expert knowledge to support patient-centred care.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/ski2.313
  9. Health Informatics J. 2024 Jan-Mar;30(1):30(1): 14604582241231151
    The quality, suitability, and readability of web-based resources on endometriosis-associated dyspareunia: A systematic review.
    Abdul-Fatawu Abdulai, A Fuchsia Howard, Gurkiran Parmar, Heather Noga, Abdul Aziz Abdul-Ghafoor, Michelle Lisonek, Paul J Yong.
      People commonly and increasingly rely on the internet to search for health information, including those related to endometriosis-associated dyspareunia. Yet the content of such websites may be of variable accuracy and quality. This review aims to evaluate the quality, readability, and suitability of web-based resources on endometriosis-associated dyspareunia for patients. We searched 3 databases - Google, Bing, and Yahoo - to identify websites related to endometriosis-associated dyspareunia. Two independent reviewers screened the search results against inclusion and exclusion criteria. Another set of two reviewers evaluated the selected websites using validated measurement instruments. Out of 450 websites, 21 met the inclusion criteria and were evaluated. More than half of the websites had information on content updates, reported on authorship, or disclosed sponsorship information. The mean quality and suitability scores were 47.5 (SD = 13.3) and 65.2 (SD = 13.6) respectively, thus suggesting generally adequate quality and suitability levels. However, the mean readability scores exceeded the recommended level for health-related websites. The poor readability of the websites might limit accessibility for a significant proportion of patients with low educational levels. The findings of this review have implications for designing high-quality, readable and up-to-date web interventions for people who rely on web platforms as an alternative or complementary source of health information on dyspareunia.
    Keywords:  dyspareunia; quality; readability; review; suitability; web-based resources
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1177/14604582241231151
  10. Front Surg. 2024 ;11 1327793
    Comprehensiveness of online sources for patient education on otosclerosis.
    Ahmet Adnan Cırık, Yeşim Esen Yiğit, Ahmet Mahmut Tekin, Yaşar Kemal Duymaz, Şamil Şahin, Burak Erkmen, Vedat Topsakal.
      Purpose: This study aimed to assess the readability indices of websites including educational materials on otosclerosis.Methods: We performed a Google search on 19 April 2023 using the term "otosclerosis." The first 50 hits were collected and analyzed. The websites were categorized into two groups: websites for health professionals and general websites for patients. Readability indices were calculated using the website https://www.webfx.com/tools/read-able/.
    Results: A total of 33 websites were eligible and analyzed (20 health professional-oriented and 13 patient-oriented websites). When patient-oriented websites and health professional-oriented websites were individually analyzed, mean Flesch Reading Ease scores were found to be 52.16 ± 14.34 and 46.62 ± 10.07, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups upon statistical analysis.
    Conclusion: Current patient educational material available online related to otosclerosis is written beyond the recommended sixth-grade reading level. The quality of good websites is worthless to the patients if they cannot comprehend the text.
    Keywords:  comprehensiveness; online sources; otosclerosis; patient education; readability
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fsurg.2024.1327793
  11. JSES Int. 2024 Jan;8(1): 53-57
    Evaluation of information from artificial intelligence on rotator cuff repair surgery.
    Eric Warren, Eoghan T Hurley, Caroline N Park, Bryan S Crook, Samuel Lorentz, Jay M Levin, Oke Anakwenze, Peter B MacDonald, Christopher S Klifto.
      Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the quality and readability of information regarding rotator cuff repair surgery available using an online AI software.Methods: An open AI model (ChatGPT) was used to answer 24 commonly asked questions from patients on rotator cuff repair. Questions were stratified into one of three categories based on the Rothwell classification system: fact, policy, or value. The answers for each category were evaluated for reliability, quality and readability using The Journal of the American Medical Association Benchmark criteria, DISCERN score, Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease Score and Grade Level.
    Results: The Journal of the American Medical Association Benchmark criteria score for all three categories was 0, which is the lowest score indicating no reliable resources cited. The DISCERN score was 51 for fact, 53 for policy, and 55 for value questions, all of which are considered good scores. Across question categories, the reliability portion of the DISCERN score was low, due to a lack of resources. The Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease Score (and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level) was 48.3 (10.3) for the fact class, 42.0 (10.9) for the policy class, and 38.4 (11.6) for the value class.
    Conclusion: The quality of information provided by the open AI chat system was generally high across all question types but had significant shortcomings in reliability due to the absence of source material citations. The DISCERN scores of the AI generated responses matched or exceeded previously published results of studies evaluating the quality of online information about rotator cuff repairs. The responses were U.S. 10th grade or higher reading level which is above the AMA and NIH recommendation of 6th grade reading level for patient materials. The AI software commonly referred the user to seek advice from orthopedic surgeons to improve their chances of a successful outcome.
    Keywords:  Artificial intelligence; ChatGPT; Natural language processing; Patient information; Rotator cuff repair; Shoulder
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jseint.2023.09.009
  12. Ann Plast Surg. 2024 Jan 09.
    Assessing the Readability of Online English and Spanish Language Patient Education Resources Provided by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, and American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgeons.
    Sairandri Sathyanarayanan, Praneet Paidisetty, Leonard Kuan-Pei Wang, Amanda Gosman, Steven Williams, Wendy Chen.
      INTRODUCTION: The National Institutes of Health recommends that patient education materials (PEMs) be written at the sixth grade level. However, PEMs online are still generally difficult to read. The usefulness of online PEMs depends on their comprehensibility.OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the readability of PEMs from national Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (PRS) organization websites.
    METHODS: Patient education materials were collected from 3 prominent PRS organizations-the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS), and the American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgeons (ASRM). ASPS PEMs were organized into reconstructive and cosmetic groups, and then further subdivided into English and Spanish subgroups. ASAPS and ASRM PEMs provided cosmetic and reconstructive comparison groups to ASPS, respectively. Readability scores were generated using the Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) and the Spanish SMOG scales.
    RESULTS: Overall, all PEMs failed to meet readability guidelines. Within ASPS, Spanish PEMs were easier to read than English PEMs (P < 0.001), and cosmetic PEMs were easier to read than reconstructive PEMs (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between ASPS cosmetic and ASAPS PEMs (P = 0.36), nor between ASPS reconstructive and ASRM PEMs (P = 0.65). ASAPS and ASRM did not have any Spanish PEMs, and 92% of all ASPS PEMs were in English.
    CONCLUSION: Although PRS societies strive to better educate the public on the scope of PRS, PRS ranks lowly in public understanding of its role in patient care. In addition, Spanish language PEMs from the 3 PRS organizations are severely lacking. Addressing these concerns will make online patient resources more equitable for various patient populations.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1097/SAP.0000000000003754
  13. Health Sci Rep. 2024 Feb;7(2): e1819
    Arabic websites assessment of irritable bowel syndrome: How trustworthy are they? A cross-sectional study.
    Hamzeh M I Abugharbieh, Raneen Bilal Alshareef, Robin Abu Ghazaleh, Afnan W M Jobran, Hazem Al Ashhab.
      Background and Aims: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic GI disorder that affects people all over the world. Patients frequently look for information about their ailments online. Despite being widely and easily accessible, online information's quality and readability are under doubt. In this investigation, we assessed the effectiveness and usability of IBS Arabic websites found on significant search engines.Methods: IBS-related search terms in Arabic were entered into two search engines (Google and YouTube), and the first 30 websites per word from Google, and the first 20 websites per word from YouTube were assessed for eligibility. Eligible Google websites were assessed for quality and readability, while YouTube websites were assessed for quality. Quality was assessed using the DISCERN score and the JAMA Benchmark. Readability was assessed using the automatic Arabic readability index (AARI). Associations between quality, readability, types of websites (medical/nonmedical), and video length were analyzed.
    Results: For Google: A total of 48 websites were evaluated, mean DISCERN score was 40.4 (SD = 10.28) indicating fair quality. The mean JAMA score was 1.6 (SD = 0.69), with the readability being worse the higher the quality. Medical websites had higher quality scores than nonmedical ones. For YouTube: A total of 34 YouTube videos were evaluated, mean DISCERN score was 34.7 (SD = 7.35), indicating poor quality. The mean JAMA score was 1.4 (SD = 0.72). Medical websites had higher quality scores than nonmedical ones. There was no association between the quality of the videos and their length.
    Conclusion: The majority of websites were of low to fair quality and required a high degree of readability. As a result, we advise (1) healthcare practitioners to offer helpful websites to their patients, and (2) the development of IBS-related websites under the guidance of experts, with the involvement of patients.
    Keywords:  Arabic; Google; YouTube; assessment; irritable bowel syndrome; websites
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.1819
  14. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec. 2024 Feb 02. 1-7
    Thyroid Ethanol and Radiofrequency Ablation: A Call for Patient-Friendly Online Resources.
    Monica H Xing, Ariana L Shaari, John E Beute, Jun Yun, Raymond L Chai.
      INTRODUCTION: The multiple treatment options available to patients with thyroid nodules can generate uncertainty and confusion. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and ethanol ablation (EA) are two alternative modalities to manage thyroid nodules. As patients more frequently utilize online resources to guide their decision-making, the quality of such resources must be evaluated. The goal of this study was to assess the quality of online patient materials relating to RFA and EA compared to standard thyroidectomy.METHODS: The terms "thyroidectomy," "thyroid radiofrequency ablation," and "thyroid ethanol ablation" were searched on Google. Flesch Reading Ease (FRE), Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), and Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) understandability and actionability were calculated for each website. Statistical analysis was conducted on SPSS Statistics. Google trends were used to determine search interest for each term (May 2016 - May 2021).
    RESULTS: Of the 77 websites that met our inclusion criteria (30 thyroidectomy sites, 30 RFA sites, and 17 EA sites), the average FRE, FKGL, and SMOG scores of the RFA websites were significantly worse than those of the thyroidectomy websites (p &lt; 0.05). The FKGL and SMOG scores of the EA websites were significantly worse than those of the thyroidectomy websites (p &lt; 0.05). The average understandability and actionability scores for thyroidectomy websites were significantly higher than those of RFA and EA websites (p &lt; 0.05).
    CONCLUSION: Ablation websites have lower search interest, readability, validity, understandability, and actionability scores in comparison to traditional thyroidectomy websites. Our findings emphasize the need to consider readability and PEMAT scores when developing online educational resources for ablative alternatives to thyroidectomy to allow for greater patient accessibility.
    Keywords:  Ethanol ablation; Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool; Patient education; Radiofrequency ablation; Readability
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1159/000535657
  15. PeerJ. 2024 ;12 e16846
    The quality and reliability of patient education regarding sound therapy videos for tinnitus on YouTube.
    Chao Huang, Hongli Lan, Fan Jiang, Yu Huang, Dan Lai.
      Background: Numerous online videos are available on sound therapy as a treatment modality for tinnitus, but it is uncertain if these videos are adequate for patient education. This study aims to evaluate the quality and reliability of tinnitus sound therapy videos on YouTube for patient education.Methods: YouTube videos were searched using keywords related to "tinnitus sound therapy". The top 100 videos were analyzed after excluding those were repetitive, irrelevant, less than 3 min, or not in English. After categorising the videos based on their authorship and content, the video power index (VPI) was relied to determine their popularity. The DISCERN questionnaire (DISCERN), the Global Quality Score (GQS), the Journal of the American Medical Association benchmark criteria (JAMA), and the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) were utilized to evaluate the quality, transparency, and patient education.
    Results: Over half (56%) of the videos were published by professional organizations. A total of 93% of them contained sound only. Only 17% followed the recommendations of the Clinical Management of Tinnitus Guidelines, and 3% provided literature referenced by the video. A variety types of sound were used, among which music accounting for 35%. The videos were highly popular with an average views of 7,335,003.28 ± 24,174,764.02 and an average VPI of 4,610.33 ± 11,531.10. However, their quality was poor (the median scores: 38/80 for DISCERN, 2/5 for GQS, 1/4 for JAMA, and 50%/100% for PEMAT). There was a negative correlation between the popularity of the videos and their quality, indicated by PEMAT: -0.207, DISCERN: -0.307, GQS: -0.302, and JAMA: -0.233. Several dimensions of the videos require improvement, especially actionability, treatment options, and transparency with lacks of 100%, 63%, and 75% respectively.
    Conclusion: The tinnitus sound therapy videos available on YouTube exhibit low quality. Nevertheless, they also hold potential for health education if refined and utilized suitably.
    Keywords:  Medical informatic; Otology; Patient education; Public health; Sound therapy; Tinnitus
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.16846
  16. Front Public Health. 2023 ;11 1296386
    Assessment of the reliability and quality of breast cancer related videos on TikTok and Bilibili: cross-sectional study in China.
    Hui Liu, Jialun Peng, Lu Li, Ao Deng, Xiangxin Huang, Guobin Yin, Jia Ming, Haojun Luo, Yinyin Liang.
      Background: As the most common malignant tumor in the world, breast cancer also brings a huge disease burden to China. Ordinary people are increasingly inclined to use the Internet, especially video social platforms, as a source of health information. Educating the public to obtain correct information is important to reduce the incidence of breast cancer and improve the prognosis. However, the quality and reliability of breast cancer-related video content have not been fully studied.Objective: This study aims to evaluate the quality of the information of breast cancer-related videos on TikTok and Bilibili video sharing platforms and factors related to video quality.
    Methods: We collected the top 100 videos about breast cancer on TikTok and Bilibili, respectively. Categorize videos according to video source and video content. Video quality and reliability were assessed using Global Quality Score (GQS) and modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) tools. We also analyzed the correlation between video quality and video likes, comments, saves, and shares.
    Results: Although the quality and reliability of Bilibili's breast cancer videos were higher than TikTok (p = 0.002 and p = 0.001, respectively), the video quality of both video sharing platforms was not satisfactory, with a median GQS scores of 2.00 and 3.00 and mDISCERN scores of 1.00 and 2.00, respectively. In general, the quality and reliability of videos released by medical practitioners were higher than those of non-medical practitioners, and the quality and reliability of videos covering disease-related knowledge were higher than those of news reports (all p < 0.001). Among medical practitioners, the quality of videos uploaded by doctors in breast disease was significantly lower than that of doctors in other areas (p < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between video quality and duration (r = 0.240, p < 0.001), a weak negative correlation between video quality and likes (r = 0.191, p < 0.01), video quality and comments (r = 0.256, p < 0.001), video reliability and likes (r = 0.198, p < 0.001), video reliability and comments (r = 0.243, p < 0.01).
    Conclusion: Our study shows that the quality and reliability of breast cancer-related videos on TikTok and Bilibili are poor, and the overall quality is unsatisfactory. But videos uploaded by medical practitioners covering disease knowledge, prevention and treatment are of higher quality. Medical practitioners are encouraged to publish more high-quality videos, while video social platforms should formulate relevant policies to censor and supervise health education videos, so as to enable the public to obtain reliable health information.
    Keywords:  breast cancer; cross-sectional study; health education; quality evaluation; video
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1296386
  17. J Med Internet Res. 2024 Feb 09. 26 e53372
    Web-Based Health Information Seeking by People Living With Multiple Sclerosis: Qualitative Investigation of the Multiple Sclerosis Online Course.
    William Bevens, Rebekah Davenport, Sandra Neate, Maggie Yu, Pia Jelinek, George Alexander Jelinek, Jeanette Reece.
      BACKGROUND: Digital technologies have afforded people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) access to telehealth consultations, diagnostic tools, and monitoring. Although health care professionals remain the most trusted source of information, the internet has emerged as a valuable resource for providing MS-related information, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, people living with MS are increasingly seeking educational content for a range of topics related to the self-management of MS; however, web-based information seeking remains largely underevaluated. To address this gap and ensure that web-based health-related information is accessible and engaging, this study used qualitative methods to analyze the reflections from participants of web-based educational programs for people living with MS.OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the motivations, behaviors, and expectations of web-based health information seeking for people living with MS.
    METHODS: We conducted semistructured interviews for 38 people living with MS 1 month after they completed the novel MS Online Course, which provided information on modifiable lifestyle-related risk factors for people living with MS. Of the 38 participants, 22 (58%) completed the intervention course and 16 (42%) completed the standard care course. Inductive thematic analysis was used within a qualitative paradigm, and 2 authors coded each interview separately and arrived at themes with consensus.
    RESULTS: We identified 2 themes: motivation to learn and MS information on the web. The diagnosis of MS was described as a pivotal moment for precipitating web-based information seeking. People living with MS sought lifestyle-related information to facilitate self-management and increase control of their MS. Although social media sites and MS websites were considered useful for providing both support and information, discretion was needed to critically appraise information. Recognizable institutions were frequently accessed because of their trustworthiness.
    CONCLUSIONS: This study provided novel insights into the motivations of people living with MS for seeking web-based health information. Furthermore, their preferences for the content and format of the web-based information accessed and their experiences and reactions to this information were explored. These findings may guide educators, researchers, and clinicians involved in MS care to optimize the engagement and processing of web-based health information seeking by people living with MS.
    Keywords:  digital health; information-seeking behavior; lifestyle; self-management
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.2196/53372
  18. Front Digit Health. 2024 ;6 1336430
    Exploring online health information seeking and sharing among older adults: a mini-review about acceptance, potentials, and barriers.
    Yves Bachofner, Alexander Seifert, Samin Sepahniya, Carlo Fabian.
      Online health information seeking (OHIS) is understood by health care, health promotion, and disease prevention experts as a resource for healthy aging. It is particularly relevant for older adults since this population can benefit significantly from the accessibility and convenience of online health platforms and health information. Nevertheless, empirical findings regarding the acceptance, potentials, and barriers of OHIS among older adults are limited. This mini-review aims to explore the level of acceptance of OHIS, including passive reading of information and active interactions with peers, among the older population. Furthermore, it examines the potentials and barriers associated with such practices. The findings ultimately emphasize the evolving landscape of internet health information exploration among older adults and the potential advantages and challenges that may arise, especially in the context of active interactions with peers.
    Keywords:  eHealth; health literacy; health seeking; older adults; online health
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2024.1336430
  19. Int J Med Inform. 2024 Feb 07. pii: S1386-5056(24)00031-5. [Epub ahead of print]184 105368
    The effect of fear on health information searching behavior during the pandemic: The case of COVID-19.
    Mesut Teleş.
      BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fear can cause people to panic, lead to erroneous decisions, and trigger inappropriate behavior. This study aims to investigate the effects of fear of COVID-19 on the perception of the reliability and the use of health information sources.METHODS: This study is both a cross-sectional and explanatory study. The participants selected by convenience sampling method were 323 students attending a state university in Turkey. The Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and the Health Information Sources Survey were used as data collection tools. Descriptive statistics, correlation coefficients, and linear regression analyses were used.
    RESULTS: The participants' mean FCV-19S score was 2.30 ± 0.93 on a five-point Likert scale. In the range of 0-10, the information source with the highest reliability perception mean score was the doctor (8.05 ± 2.54), whereas that with the highest usage was the Internet (7.98 ± 2.77). Although the fear of COVID-19 had a negative effect on Internet use (b = -0.38; p < 0.05), the effects on the use of other health information sources were positive (b = 0.37-0.83; p < 0.05). Trust in radio (b = 0.60; p < 0.05) and newspapers/magazines (b = 0.49; p < 0.05) also increased with fear.
    CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that as university students' fear of COVID-19 increased, the use of the Internet for health information decreased; however, the use of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, other health workers, scientific articles, television, radio, and newspapers/journals increased. Nurses were the source of information whose use increased the most, along with increased fear. The findings can guide health policies to be followed. Not only doctor talks but also nurse talks and scientific videos should be increased on the Internet, social media, and other mass media.
    Keywords:  Fear of COVID-19; Health communication; Health information-seeking behavior; Reliable sources of information; Traditional and social media
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2024.105368
  20. Health Commun. 2024 Feb 07. 1-14
    Search Engine Use for Health-Related Purposes: Behavioral Data on Online Health Information-Seeking in Germany.
    Marko Bachl, Elena Link, Frank Mangold, Sebastian Stier.
      Internet searches for health-related purposes are common, with search engines like Google being the most popular starting point. However, results on the popularity of health information-seeking behaviors are based on self-report data, often criticized for suffering from incomplete recall, overreporting, and low reliability. Therefore, the current study builds on user-centric tracking of Internet use to reveal how individuals actually behave online. We conducted a secondary analysis of passively recorded Internet use logs to examine the prevalence of health-related search engine use, the types of health information searched for, and the sources visited after the searches. The analysis revealed two key findings. 1) We largely support earlier survey-based findings on the prevalence of online health information seeking with search engines and the relatively minor differences in information-seeking behaviors between socio-demographic groups. 2) We provide a more granular picture of the process of HISB using search engines by identifying different selection patterns depending on the scope of the searches.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2024.2309810
  21. Healthcare (Basel). 2024 Jan 29. pii: 336. [Epub ahead of print]12(3):
    The Role of Technology in Online Health Communities: A Study of Information-Seeking Behavior.
    LeAnn Boyce, Ahasan Harun, Gayle Prybutok, Victor R Prybutok.
      This study significantly contributes to both theory and practice by providing valuable insights into the role and value of healthcare in the context of online health communities. This study highlights the increasing dependence of patients and their families on online sources for health information and the potential of technology to support individuals with health information needs. This study develops a theoretical framework by analyzing data from a cross-sectional survey using partial least squares structural equation modeling and multi-group and importance-performance map analysis. The findings of this study identify the most beneficial technology-related issues, like ease of site navigation and interaction with other online members, which have important implications for the development and management of online health communities. Healthcare professionals can also use this information to disseminate relevant information to those with chronic illnesses effectively. This study recommends proactive engagement between forum admins and participants to improve technology use and interaction, highlighting the benefits of guidelines for effective technology use to enhance users' information-seeking processes. Overall, this study's significant contribution lies in its identification of factors that aid online health community participants in the information-seeking process, providing valuable information to professionals on using technology to disseminate information relevant to chronic illnesses like COPD.
    Keywords:  information-seeking behavior; online forum; online health communities; online health information; online information seeking; online information-seeking behavior
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12030336
  22. Patient Educ Couns. 2024 Jan 26. pii: S0738-3991(24)00036-3. [Epub ahead of print]122 108169
    Examining the differences of perceptions and experience with online health information accessibility between deaf and hearing individuals: A qualitative study.
    P Paul Chandanabhumma, Samantha Ratakonda, Tiffany Panko, Jessica Cuculick, Peter Hauser, Michael K Paasche-Orlow, Michael D Fetters, Michael M McKee.
      OBJECTIVE: Describe and compare the experiences and preferences of Deaf and hearing individuals with different levels of health literacy in accessing, interpreting, and acting upon online health information.METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 17 Deaf and 10 hearing participants with high and low health literacy from three healthcare sites. We conducted thematic analysis of the transcripts to explore information navigation experiences, information sources and dissemination preferences.
    RESULTS: We found thematic differences between Deaf and hearing participants with high and low health literacy in terms of information needs, information search experiences, information search perceptions, and preferred information dissemination approaches. Relative to hearing counterparts, Deaf participants were more likely to encounter challenges in accessing and understanding online information. Deaf participants with low health literacy were more likely to rely on visual graphics to support their understanding of the information than those with high health literacy. Deaf participants advocated for tailored approaches to disseminate health information to Deaf communities.
    CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that differences in online health information navigation experiences and accessibility may inform disparities in health literacy outcomes between Deaf and hearing individuals.
    PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Online health information should be presented in a manner accessible to Deaf community members.
    Keywords:  Deaf and hard of hearing patients; Deaf cultural diversity; Health disparities; Health literacy; Online health information accessibility; Qualitative research
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2024.108169
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