The quality and reliability of Turkish websites in Google containing information about amputation rehabilitation in the shadow of the earthquake disaster

Authors : Ramazan YILMAZ, Savaş KARPUZ

Pages : 266-275

Doi:10.21673/anadoluklin.1282353

View : 49 | Download : 41

Publication Date : 2023-09-28

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Aim: Health-related online information has become an important part of patient education. In this context, we aimed to examine the information content, readability, reliability, and quality levels of websites that provide online information about amputee rehabilitation. Methods: On April 1–7, 2023, all websites scanned by typing “amputee rehabilitation” into the Google search engine were examined. The websites are divided into two groups insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(group 1= hospitals, universities, health-related associations, and other official institutions; group 2= health professionals, news websites, and others); according to the creator of the websites. The information content was determined according to nine sub-topics in line with the online education programs of the Disaster Rehabilitation Working Group of the Turkish Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Association and the relevant literature. According to the readability formula of Ateşman and Bezirci-Yilmaz, reliability and quality assessments were made with the Journal of the American Medical Association insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(JAMA); score, the DISCERN scale, the Global Quality Score insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(GQS);, and the Physician’s Global Quality Score insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(PGQS);. Results: 109 websites were scanned, and 20 websites were included in the study, 12 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(60%); in group 1 and 8 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(40%); in group 2. The median of information content was 2,3 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(0–7);, and none of the websites had full information content. The median of the Ateşman value is 41,1 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(29,5–53,0);, which is difficult to read; the Bezirci-Yilmaz value was readable at the undergraduate level with a median of 15,5 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(9,4–21,6);. The JAMA score was 0,8 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(0-3); and almost all insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(95%); of the websites were found to be low reliable insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(JAMA score ≤ 2);. The DISCERN score was of very poor quality, with a median of 23,55 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(16–34);. GQS was 1,95 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1-3);, and PGQS was 1.7 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1-3); with low quality. There was no difference between the groups or between the first two pages and the remaining pages. Conclusion: Turkish websites providing information about amputee rehabilitation are very inadequate in terms of content, difficult to read, poor quality, and unreliable. Within the framework of these data, reliable and comprehensible online information on this subject should be provided with the necessary support of health-related public or private institutions and experienced health professionals. To be prepared for future natural disasters, health policies aiming to provide quality information online to inform the public should be developed.
Keywords : Amputasyon, doğal afetler, eğitim, idrak, internet, rehabilitasyon