Assessment of readability level of Turkish websites on gingival recession

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluated the readability level (RL) and textual content quality (TCQ) of Turkish websites providing information about “gingival recession” (GR) to understand their implications for public health, specifically concerning health literacy and access to care. Ensuring online health information is accessible is crucial for promoting informed decision-making and preventive health behaviors. Basic Research Design: Cross-sectional and assessment of RL and TCQ on Turkish websites. Subjects: After excluding ineligible websites, a total of 46 websites about GR obtained from the first 10 search result pages on Google were analyzed. Main outcome measures: RL was assessed using Ateşman’s and Bezirci-Yılmaz’s formulas, validated as Turkish formulas. TCQ was scored using six criteria. Analyses compared the mean values and revealed the associations between variables. Results: The Bezirci-Yılmaz formula indicated a master’s degree RL (17.96 ± 4.95), suggesting high reading difficulty for the public. The Ateşman formula indicated moderate readability (57.08 ± 12.74). The mean TCQ was low (2.89 ± 1.08), indicating insufficient information content. RL were positively associated with word count (p < 0.001 for both) but not with TCQ (p > 0.05 for both). Conclusion: Turkish websites on GR are significantly harder to read than recommended for public health materials and the average literacy level in Turkiye. This, combined with low content quality, creates a barrier to understanding essential dental health information, potentially worsening health disparities. Addressing this issue is a public health imperative to improve equitable access to crucial dental health information, empower individuals to take proactive steps for their oral health, and advance national oral health objectives.