Quality and readability of internet-based information on halitosis

Publication date: Available online 8 December 2017
Source:Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology
Author(s): Jung Hwan Jo, Eui Joo Kim, Ji Rak Kim, Moon Jong Kim, Jin Woo Chung, Ji Woon Park
ObjectiveTo evaluate quality and readability of Internet-based information on halitosis.Study DesignAn Internet search through three engines (Google, Yahoo and Bing) was done with the terms ("bad breath", "halitosis", "oral malodor", "foul breath", "mouth malodor", "breath malodor", "fetor ex ore", "fetor oris", "ozostomia", and "stomatodysodia"). The first 50 websites from each engine resulting from each search term were screened. Included websites were evaluated using Health on the Net(HON) criteria, Journal of American Medical Association(JAMA) benchmarks, DISCERN, Ensuring Quality Information for Patients(EQIP), Flesch Reading Ease(FRE) score and Flesch-Kincaid Grade level.ResultsOne hundred and one websites were included. HON, DISCERN, EQIP, and FRE score were 42.9%, 37.6%, 37.4%, and 51.9% of the maximum score, respectively. Fewer than 50% of sites displayed attribution, disclosure, and currency according to JAMA benchmarks. HON score, DISCERN score and EQIP score showed significant correlation with each other and were significantly higher in sites displaying the HON seal.ConclusionThe current quality and readability of informative websites on halitosis are generally low and poorly organized. Clinicians should be able to assess the Internet-based information on halitosis, as well as give accurate advice and guide patients concerning this issue.



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