Mentor
Vanessa Simonds
Participation year
2013
Project title

"Usability, readability, and diversity assessment of internet-based information related to anxiety"

Abstract

Health literacy is a complex set of skills that allow individuals to obtain, understand and act on health information and services. In addition, health literacy is an interaction between an individual’s skills and the demand that are placed upon them. Health Information on the internet is often written at high literacy levels above the skills of the average person. The purpose of our study is to determine the usability, readability, and audience targeting of three popular websites designed to provide information about anxiety. Data were abstracted using a tool to measure general web page design, health literacy, and cultural literacy. The Simplified Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) Readability test was used to determine readability levels and the criteria from Suitability Assessment of Material (SAM + CAM) test was used to determine numeracy levels. Results from this study indicated that the average reading level for the three websites assessed was 16th grade (college level). Most websites included little information about audience diversity in regards to ethnicity/race, age, and gender. In addition, there was limited use of numbers in the websites, when numbers were present they were most often used to provide estimates for the prevalence of anxiety for different populations. None of the websites required higher level numerical calculations. Our study provides insight into areas for improving usability of and health literacy demand of websites so they may be average skills and abilities of Americans."

Destinie Thompson
Education
California State University @ Dominguez Hills