TY - JOUR
T1 - Online nutrition information for cancer survivors
AU - Keaver, Laura
AU - Huggins, Michaela Deane
AU - Chonaill, Doireann Ni
AU - O'Callaghan, Niamh
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The British Dietetic Association Ltd.
PY - 2023/4
Y1 - 2023/4
N2 - Background: This research aims to systematically review a comprehensive sample of websites (English-language) that provide information on nutrition after cancer treatment. Methods: In consultation with cancer survivors and experts, we developed search strings for an internet search (incognito mode in Google Chrome) to be completed in six English-speaking countries (Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States); the first 10 results were chosen for each search). Websites/web pages were included if the links related to sites/content that provided information on health post-treatment in English and aimed at adults (aged above 18 years). Several tools were applied to test the quality, readability and usability of the websites/weblinks. Results: Initially, 720 links were found, with 159 eligible for inclusion. Those eligible for review were charity/support/non-governmental organisation weblinks (49.1%) that originated in the United States (42.8%) and did not specify a particular cancer type (65.4%). One-third (n = 59, 37.1%) of these links contained nutrition guidance; however, these lacked practical implementation strategies. Most of the websites/web pages were not Health On the Net certified and lacked overall quality, with a mean International Patient Decision Aids Standards score of 20.4/40 and a Journal of the American Medical Association score of 1/4. Readability failed to meet ideal levels. Only 32.5% (n = 13) of the web pages/weblinks met the benchmark for usability. Conclusion: Cancer survivors seeking nutrition information online may encounter difficulty locating advice, and where they do, it is unlikely to contain guidance on implementation into day-to-day life. This is concerning, given the important role nutrition can play in cancer survivorship.
AB - Background: This research aims to systematically review a comprehensive sample of websites (English-language) that provide information on nutrition after cancer treatment. Methods: In consultation with cancer survivors and experts, we developed search strings for an internet search (incognito mode in Google Chrome) to be completed in six English-speaking countries (Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States); the first 10 results were chosen for each search). Websites/web pages were included if the links related to sites/content that provided information on health post-treatment in English and aimed at adults (aged above 18 years). Several tools were applied to test the quality, readability and usability of the websites/weblinks. Results: Initially, 720 links were found, with 159 eligible for inclusion. Those eligible for review were charity/support/non-governmental organisation weblinks (49.1%) that originated in the United States (42.8%) and did not specify a particular cancer type (65.4%). One-third (n = 59, 37.1%) of these links contained nutrition guidance; however, these lacked practical implementation strategies. Most of the websites/web pages were not Health On the Net certified and lacked overall quality, with a mean International Patient Decision Aids Standards score of 20.4/40 and a Journal of the American Medical Association score of 1/4. Readability failed to meet ideal levels. Only 32.5% (n = 13) of the web pages/weblinks met the benchmark for usability. Conclusion: Cancer survivors seeking nutrition information online may encounter difficulty locating advice, and where they do, it is unlikely to contain guidance on implementation into day-to-day life. This is concerning, given the important role nutrition can play in cancer survivorship.
KW - cancer
KW - dietary advice
KW - online information
KW - readability and usability
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85141440398&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/jhn.13095
DO - 10.1111/jhn.13095
M3 - Article
C2 - 36177612
AN - SCOPUS:85141440398
SN - 0952-3871
VL - 36
SP - 415
EP - 433
JO - Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics
JF - Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics
IS - 2
ER -