Quality of consumer-oriented websites containing information about the second trimester ultrasound examination during pregnancy

Abstract

Background: Providing information about prenatal tests is a clinical challenge and the public frequently accesses the Web to read pregnancy-related information. The overarching aim of this study was to investigate the quality of consumer-oriented websites addressing obstetric ultrasound examination in the second trimester of pregnancy. Methods: Swedish websites were identified with Google, using 20 search strings and screening 400 hits (n = 71 included websites). Reliability and information about the examination were assessed with the DISCERN instrument, completeness was assessed according to national guidelines, and readability analyzed with the Readability Index. Popularity was determined with the ALEXA tool and search rank was determined according to Google hit lists. Results: The mean total DISCERN score was 29.7/80 (SD 11.4), with > 50% having low quality for 15 of the 16 questions. The mean completeness score was 6.8/24 (SD 4.5). The Readability Index ranged between 22 and 63, with a mean of 42.7 (SD 6.8), indicating difficult readability. Weak and non-significant correlations were observed between ALEXA/search rank and the investigated quality variables, except for search rank and reliability.Conclusions: The quality of consumer-oriented websites addressing the second trimester ultrasound examination is low. Health professionals need to discuss this with expectant parents considering undergoing the examination. There is a need for efforts that aim to improve the poor quality of online sources in the field of prenatal examinations.

What's out there for parents? A systematic review of online information about prenatal microarray and exome sequencing

“…Like other examinations of online information relating to pregnancy, 19 , 20 , 21 this study found that the quality of the information about CMA and ES was rated as low overall and had been written at an advanced reading level. We also found that, although professional bodies have made recommendations on the content that should be included when providing information to parents about CMA 28 , 29 and ES, 30 , 31 , 32 there were several regularly occurring omissions.…”

“…41,42 We know that patients often search online for information while trying to understand and make decisions about genetic testing and, in the United Kingdom, pregnant women have reported searching in particular for texts written by medical professionals or published by medical institutions. 43 High-quality written Like other examinations of online information relating to pregnancy, [19][20][21] this study found that the quality of the information about CMA and ES was rated as low overall and had been written at an advanced reading level. We also found that, although professional bodies have made recommendations on the content that should be included when providing information to parents about CMA 28,29 and ES, [30][31][32] there were several regularly occurring omissions.…”

“… 30 , 31 , 32 This approach is one that has been used elsewhere in the literature. 20 , 22 The content guide to assess the content of patient information pertaining to CMA comprised 15 items. Each item was rated on a scale from 1 to 5 (where 1 equals “no, the information was not included, 2–4 equals “the information was partially included”, and 5 equals “yes, the information was completely included”).…”

“…15 Pertinent to the work we describe here, is that parents also cite online informationseeking as a strategy for assuaging feelings of uncertainty surrounding the detection of a foetal anomaly 16 and to find information about prenatal genetic testing. 17 The standard of the pregnancy-related information available on the Internet, however, has been called into question, with research revealing it to be highly variable, 18 of low quality, 19,20 written at a level too advanced for the general population to understand, 21 and lacking in pertinent details. 22 The relative novelty of prenatal genetic tests like CMA and prenatal ES (the latter which has only recently been implemented into mainstream clinical practice), means that we know little about what is available to parents when information about prenatal genetic tests, particularly these new technologies, is sought online.…”

Quality and readability of online information on idiopathic subglottic stenosis

“…This methodology was also used in three peer‐reviewed manuscripts published by the senior author and in publications on various medical topics including second trimester ultrasound examination, gender‐affirming hormone treatments, and rhinoplasty. 14 , 15 , 16 , 62 , 63 , 64 However, to reduce rating bias, it may have been more ideal to have two independent reviewers extract data with the DISCERN tool. The assessor was not blinded to the category of the website, which could introduce bias in the DISCERN assessment.…”