Do anxiety websites have the answers people are looking for?

•Anxiety websites varied greatly in terms of their quality.•Anxiety websites average reading level (Gr. 11) is higher than recommended (Gr. 6–7).•Many websites do not cover the topics of interest such as cost and side effects.•The top 5 anxiety websites were: Anxiety BC, ADAA, Mind, Beyond Blue, and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Patient education and counseling 2022-04, Vol.105 (4), p.933-941
Main Authors: Bernstein, Matthew T., Reynolds, Kristin A., Jakobson, Lorna S., Petty, Sarah K., Pryor, Teaghan A.M., Stoesz, Brenda M., Alcolado, Gillian M., Furer, Patricia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anxiety
Comprehension
Humans
Information quality
Internet
Patient education
Treatment decision making
Websites
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Summary:•Anxiety websites varied greatly in terms of their quality.•Anxiety websites average reading level (Gr. 11) is higher than recommended (Gr. 6–7).•Many websites do not cover the topics of interest such as cost and side effects.•The top 5 anxiety websites were: Anxiety BC, ADAA, Mind, Beyond Blue, and Web MD.•Existing websites can be enhanced by outlining lowering reading level, having a range of topics, and improving visual design. A wealth of online anxiety information exists but much of it is not evidence-based or well-balanced. This study evaluated anxiety websites (N = 20) on readability, quality, usability, visual design, and content. Overall, websites were of reasonable quality but only half were considered understandable according to the PEMAT usability scale (70% cutoff value). The average reading level across websites was 11.2 (SMOG), which is higher than NIH recommended grade 6–7 level. Websites had variable design features and a trending association suggested websites with better design come up earlier in search results. The number of topics covered varied across websites and most did not adequately cover all topics of interest. Most websites included information about psychological and self-help treatments, how treatment works, and what treatment entails. The Top 5 websites were: (1) Anxiety BC, (2) ADAA, (3) Mind, (4) Beyond Blue, and (5) Web MD. This is the first study to evaluate existing anxiety information websites based on the dimensions described above and their relationship to Google search results. This study highlights the importance of considering several dimensions in developing mental health resources and provides direction for strategies to improve existing websites and/or develop new resources.
ISSN:0738-3991
1873-5134
DOI:10.1016/j.pec.2021.08.002