Major
Biology
Anticipated Graduation Year
2023
Access Type
Open Access
Abstract
The Internet is a significant source of information for patients learning about their health; however, the quality of resources varies widely. The National Institutes of Health recommends that reading material is at or below an eighth-grade level. Our study examines the patient education materials (PEMs) of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a rare and highly aggressive skin cancer. The population most affected by the disease is also the least proficient in health literacy. We analyzed the readability of PEM websites on MCC online and found that most MCC PEMs have not reached an appropriate reading level for patients.
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Readability of Online Patient Education Materials for Merkel Cell Carcinoma
The Internet is a significant source of information for patients learning about their health; however, the quality of resources varies widely. The National Institutes of Health recommends that reading material is at or below an eighth-grade level. Our study examines the patient education materials (PEMs) of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a rare and highly aggressive skin cancer. The population most affected by the disease is also the least proficient in health literacy. We analyzed the readability of PEM websites on MCC online and found that most MCC PEMs have not reached an appropriate reading level for patients.