Information quality and dynamics of patients' interactions on tonsillectomy web resources

Information technologies have drastically altered the way patients gather health-related information. By analysing web resources on tonsillectomy, we expose information quality and dynamics of patients' interactions in the online continuum. Readability was assessed using Flesch Reading Ease (FRE), Flesch Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), and Gunning Fog Index (GFI). Comprehensibility and actionability were assessed using the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT). Metrics of forums included author characteristics (level of disclosure, gender, age, avatar image, etc.), posts' motive (community support vs. medical information) and content (word count, emoticon use, number of replies, etc.). Analysis of 6 professional medical websites, of 10 health information portals, and of 3 discussion forums totalizing 1369 posts on 358 threads, from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2014, reveals that online resources exceed understandability recommendations. Women were more present on online health forums (68.2% of authors disclosing their gender) and invested themselves more in their avatar. Authors replying were significantly older than authors of original posts (39.7 ± 0.8 years vs. 29.2 ± 0.9 years, p < 0.001). The degree of self-disclosure was inversely proportional to the requests for medical information (p < 0.001). Men and women were equally seeking medical information (men: 74.0%, women: 77.0%) and community support (men: 65.7%, women: 70.4%), however women responded more supportively (women 86.2%, men 59.1%, p < 0.001). The dynamics of patients' interactions used to overcome accessibility difficulties encountered is complex. This work outlines the necessity for comprehensible medical information to adequately answer patients' needs.