Analysis of internet educational websites on tobacco cessation: A content analysis [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]

Background There have been significant changes in the lifestyles of individuals in the past few decades, which has led to increased morbidity and mortality worldwide. Both smoking and chewing forms of tobacco are highly prevalent, especially in India, and are implicated as causes of diseases, includ...

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Main Authors: Ramya Shenoy, Ashwini Rao, Mithun Pai, G Rajesh, Kaveri Chengappa, B R Avinash
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: F1000 Research Ltd 2024-11-01
Series:F1000Research
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Online Access:https://f1000research.com/articles/13-822/v2
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author Ramya Shenoy
Ashwini Rao
Mithun Pai
G Rajesh
Kaveri Chengappa
B R Avinash
author_facet Ramya Shenoy
Ashwini Rao
Mithun Pai
G Rajesh
Kaveri Chengappa
B R Avinash
author_sort Ramya Shenoy
collection DOAJ
description Background There have been significant changes in the lifestyles of individuals in the past few decades, which has led to increased morbidity and mortality worldwide. Both smoking and chewing forms of tobacco are highly prevalent, especially in India, and are implicated as causes of diseases, including oropharyngeal carcinomas. Effective tobacco cessation techniques and sources can help overcome addiction and reduce the disease burden in society. The aim was to evaluate the quality and readability of contents of various sources on an internet website about tobacco cessation. Objectives i) To evaluate the readability of internet content (Google) regarding tobacco cessation using Flesch–Kincaid readability tests and the quality of internet content (Google) by using the JAMA benchmark, HONcode and DISCERN questionnaire. Methods A content review was employed to screen the content of the Google search engine for educational tobacco cessation websites, and the top 50 websites were selected according to criteria and reviewed by two reviewers. The readability of the internet content (Google) regarding tobacco cessation was evaluated using Flesch–Kincaid readability tests. The quality of the screened sites was evaluated by using the JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) benchmark, HONcode (The Health on the Net Code of Conduct) and DISCERN (Discerning the Quality of Information for Choosing Treatments) questionnaire, and the readability and quality of the screened websites were correlated using the above instruments. Results FK readability ease was found to be 49% standard and 30% easy. The FK grade test found that 33% of the content could be easily understood by < 5th grade. All 4 JAMA benchmarks were met by 23% of websites, and authorship was the least fulfilled criterion. Correlation analysis revealed a significant association between FK ease score and FK grade score. Conclusions The Read-ability Ease and Read-ability Grade Levels of the websites related to tobacco cessation were not standard, and few websites fulfilled the JAMA benchmarks and had HONcode certification.
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spelling doaj-art-b29b32b6ae2a4d92ab521253974c72432025-08-20T02:48:42ZengF1000 Research LtdF1000Research2046-14022024-11-011310.12688/f1000research.146843.2174934Analysis of internet educational websites on tobacco cessation: A content analysis [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]Ramya Shenoy0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3126-4415Ashwini Rao1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2474-5010Mithun Pai2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4663-627XG Rajesh3Kaveri Chengappa4B R Avinash5https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0773-2063Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, Karnataka, Manipal, 576104, IndiaDepartment of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, Karnataka, Manipal, 576104, IndiaDepartment of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, Karnataka, Manipal, 576104, IndiaDepartment of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Infodemics, Institute for child health Policy , University of Florida., Florida, Florida, USADepartment of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, Karnataka, Manipal, 576104, IndiaDepartment of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, Karnataka, Manipal, 576104, IndiaBackground There have been significant changes in the lifestyles of individuals in the past few decades, which has led to increased morbidity and mortality worldwide. Both smoking and chewing forms of tobacco are highly prevalent, especially in India, and are implicated as causes of diseases, including oropharyngeal carcinomas. Effective tobacco cessation techniques and sources can help overcome addiction and reduce the disease burden in society. The aim was to evaluate the quality and readability of contents of various sources on an internet website about tobacco cessation. Objectives i) To evaluate the readability of internet content (Google) regarding tobacco cessation using Flesch–Kincaid readability tests and the quality of internet content (Google) by using the JAMA benchmark, HONcode and DISCERN questionnaire. Methods A content review was employed to screen the content of the Google search engine for educational tobacco cessation websites, and the top 50 websites were selected according to criteria and reviewed by two reviewers. The readability of the internet content (Google) regarding tobacco cessation was evaluated using Flesch–Kincaid readability tests. The quality of the screened sites was evaluated by using the JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) benchmark, HONcode (The Health on the Net Code of Conduct) and DISCERN (Discerning the Quality of Information for Choosing Treatments) questionnaire, and the readability and quality of the screened websites were correlated using the above instruments. Results FK readability ease was found to be 49% standard and 30% easy. The FK grade test found that 33% of the content could be easily understood by < 5th grade. All 4 JAMA benchmarks were met by 23% of websites, and authorship was the least fulfilled criterion. Correlation analysis revealed a significant association between FK ease score and FK grade score. Conclusions The Read-ability Ease and Read-ability Grade Levels of the websites related to tobacco cessation were not standard, and few websites fulfilled the JAMA benchmarks and had HONcode certification.https://f1000research.com/articles/13-822/v2Oral cancer Oral health Online resources readability tests Smokeless tobacco Tobacco cessationeng
spellingShingle Ramya Shenoy
Ashwini Rao
Mithun Pai
G Rajesh
Kaveri Chengappa
B R Avinash
Analysis of internet educational websites on tobacco cessation: A content analysis [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]
F1000Research
Oral cancer
Oral health
Online resources
readability tests
Smokeless tobacco
Tobacco cessation
eng
title Analysis of internet educational websites on tobacco cessation: A content analysis [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]
title_full Analysis of internet educational websites on tobacco cessation: A content analysis [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]
title_fullStr Analysis of internet educational websites on tobacco cessation: A content analysis [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of internet educational websites on tobacco cessation: A content analysis [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]
title_short Analysis of internet educational websites on tobacco cessation: A content analysis [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]
title_sort analysis of internet educational websites on tobacco cessation a content analysis version 2 peer review 2 approved
topic Oral cancer
Oral health
Online resources
readability tests
Smokeless tobacco
Tobacco cessation
eng
url https://f1000research.com/articles/13-822/v2
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