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Accessibility of online self-management support websites for people with osteoarthritis: a text content analysis

Accessibility of online self-management support websites for people with osteoarthritis: a text content analysis
Accessibility of online self-management support websites for people with osteoarthritis: a text content analysis
Objectives

This study assessed accessibility of online self-management support webpages for people with osteoarthritis by considering readability of text and inclusion of images and videos.

Methods

Eight key search terms developed and agreed with patient and public involvement representatives were entered into the Google search engine. Webpages from the first page of Google search results were identified. Readability of webpage text was assessed using two standardised readability indexes, and the number of images and videos included on each webpage was recorded.

Results

Forty-nine webpages met the inclusion criteria and were assessed. Only five of the webpages met the recommended reading level for health education literature. Almost half (44.9%) of webpages did not include any informative images to support written information. A minority of the webpages (6.12%) included relevant videos.

Discussion

Information provided on health webpages aiming to support patients to self-manage osteoarthritis may not be read, understood or used effectively by many people accessing it. Recommendations include using accessible language in health information, supplementing written information with visual resources and reviewing content and readability in collaboration with patient and public involvement representatives.
1742-3953
1-11
Chapman, Lara
128e5cb7-f160-4eae-a0da-2a36ee11ae2a
Brooks, Lotty
f1772470-2f7d-4738-96d8-01d0c1b6ea3a
Lawson, Jem
16147dcb-807d-4536-b462-238dbfab9f77
Russell, Cynthia
7004bba9-a609-47ed-9b7c-898eb3f2caa1
Adams, Joanna
6e38b8bb-9467-4585-86e4-14062b02bcba
Chapman, Lara
128e5cb7-f160-4eae-a0da-2a36ee11ae2a
Brooks, Lotty
f1772470-2f7d-4738-96d8-01d0c1b6ea3a
Lawson, Jem
16147dcb-807d-4536-b462-238dbfab9f77
Russell, Cynthia
7004bba9-a609-47ed-9b7c-898eb3f2caa1
Adams, Joanna
6e38b8bb-9467-4585-86e4-14062b02bcba

Chapman, Lara, Brooks, Lotty, Lawson, Jem, Russell, Cynthia and Adams, Joanna (2017) Accessibility of online self-management support websites for people with osteoarthritis: a text content analysis. Chronic Illness, 1-11. (doi:10.1177/1742395317746471).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Objectives

This study assessed accessibility of online self-management support webpages for people with osteoarthritis by considering readability of text and inclusion of images and videos.

Methods

Eight key search terms developed and agreed with patient and public involvement representatives were entered into the Google search engine. Webpages from the first page of Google search results were identified. Readability of webpage text was assessed using two standardised readability indexes, and the number of images and videos included on each webpage was recorded.

Results

Forty-nine webpages met the inclusion criteria and were assessed. Only five of the webpages met the recommended reading level for health education literature. Almost half (44.9%) of webpages did not include any informative images to support written information. A minority of the webpages (6.12%) included relevant videos.

Discussion

Information provided on health webpages aiming to support patients to self-manage osteoarthritis may not be read, understood or used effectively by many people accessing it. Recommendations include using accessible language in health information, supplementing written information with visual resources and reviewing content and readability in collaboration with patient and public involvement representatives.

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Accessibility of online self-management support websites for people with osteoarthritis: A text content analysis - Accepted Manuscript
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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 25 October 2017
e-pub ahead of print date: 18 December 2017

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 417684
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/417684
ISSN: 1742-3953
PURE UUID: e04f1a9d-bd99-4b06-b9e4-f0f81e28202e
ORCID for Lotty Brooks: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4461-1247
ORCID for Joanna Adams: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-1765-7060

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 09 Feb 2018 17:30
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 06:08

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Contributors

Author: Lara Chapman
Author: Lotty Brooks ORCID iD
Author: Jem Lawson
Author: Cynthia Russell
Author: Joanna Adams ORCID iD

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