An Evaluation of Breast Cancer Website: Assessing the Readability of Breast Cancer Websites for The Public.

Abstract

Patients including breast cancer patients’ participation in the management of their health is now an important practice and they need information about their condition for them to make an informed decision about their health. This information can be sought through various media and internet has been found to be the most important medium even for cancer patients. Literature has shown the recommended readability level of online health consumers to be sixth grade level.

Websites were selected by trying to mimic how the public search for breast cancer information on the internet. These websites were then evaluated using a readability tests.

This study found out that readability is poor with all the websites written above the recommended grade level for health information.

Information about breast cancer can be found on the internet by the public. The readability of online health information is a very serious issue.

Keywords: Readability, Informed patient, health information online, internet.