tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2020 May 11:1-10. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2020.151. [Epub ahead of print]
Public health communication in time of crisis: Readability of On-Line COVID-19 Information.
Basch CH[SUP]1[/SUP], Mohlman J[SUP]2[/SUP], Hillyer GC[SUP]3[/SUP], Garcia P[SUP]1[/SUP].
Author information
Abstract
INTRODUCTION:
The purpose of this study was to assess the readability of information on the Internet posted about COVID-19 to determine how closely these materials are written to the recommended reading levels.
METHODS:
Using the search term "coronavirus," information posted on the first 100 English language websites was identified. Using an online readability calculator, multiple readability tests were conducted to assure a comprehensive representation would result.
RESULTS:
The mean readability scores ranged between grade levels 6.2 and 17.8 (graduate school level). Four of the five measures (GFI, CLI, SMOG, FRE) found that readability exceeded the 10th grade reading level indicating that the text of these websites would be difficult for the average American to read. The mean reading level for nearly all non-commercial and commercial websites was at or above the 10th grade reading level.
DISCUSSION:
Messages about COVID-19 must be readable at an 'easy' level, and must contain clear guidelines for behavior. The degree to which individuals seek information in response to risk messages is positively related to the expectation that the information will resolve uncertainty. However, if the information is too complex to interpret and it fails to lead to disambiguation this can contribute to feelings of panic.
KEYWORDS:
COVID-19; on-line information; readability
PMID:32389144DOI:10.1017/dmp.2020.151
Public health communication in time of crisis: Readability of On-Line COVID-19 Information.
Basch CH[SUP]1[/SUP], Mohlman J[SUP]2[/SUP], Hillyer GC[SUP]3[/SUP], Garcia P[SUP]1[/SUP].
Author information
Abstract
INTRODUCTION:
The purpose of this study was to assess the readability of information on the Internet posted about COVID-19 to determine how closely these materials are written to the recommended reading levels.
METHODS:
Using the search term "coronavirus," information posted on the first 100 English language websites was identified. Using an online readability calculator, multiple readability tests were conducted to assure a comprehensive representation would result.
RESULTS:
The mean readability scores ranged between grade levels 6.2 and 17.8 (graduate school level). Four of the five measures (GFI, CLI, SMOG, FRE) found that readability exceeded the 10th grade reading level indicating that the text of these websites would be difficult for the average American to read. The mean reading level for nearly all non-commercial and commercial websites was at or above the 10th grade reading level.
DISCUSSION:
Messages about COVID-19 must be readable at an 'easy' level, and must contain clear guidelines for behavior. The degree to which individuals seek information in response to risk messages is positively related to the expectation that the information will resolve uncertainty. However, if the information is too complex to interpret and it fails to lead to disambiguation this can contribute to feelings of panic.
KEYWORDS:
COVID-19; on-line information; readability
PMID:32389144DOI:10.1017/dmp.2020.151