Affiliation:
1. Bandırma Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi
Abstract
Background/Aims:
Known as Bell's palsy, is a neurological disorder characterized by partial or complete paralysis of the muscles of the face, results from impairment or dysfunction of the facial nerve. This study aims to evaluate the readability, content, and quality and determine the level of accuracy and reliability of websites in Turkish language that provide information about facial paralysis.
Methods:
This descriptive, cross-sectional study analyzed the quality, usability, content and readability of Turkish facial paralysis websites using the Ateşman and Bezirci-Yılmaz Readability Formula, reading time, number of images, JAMA Benchmark Criteria, DISCERN Scale and UpToDate topics. Webscore.ai was used to assess aesthetic appeal and user experience.
Results:
After reviewing 200 websites, 110 Turkish sites about facial paralysis were included in the study. Average reading time was 5.5 minutes. Bezirci-Yılmaz score was 13.8. Ateşman readability levels were moderate. News, blog and "other" sites had the most visual content, followed by Health Professionals (HP) sites. Average quality of sites was poor.
Conclusions:
The DISCERN scale found 60% of Turkish health websites had poor-to-very poor content quality. UpToDate's benchmarking revealed 58.2% of sites contained less than half of the basic topics. This indicates inadequate, outdated info for facial paralysis patients. State Institutions and Health Related Associations should provide valid, reliable info on modern websites.