Percorrer por autor "Alves, Pedro Filipe Caldeira dos Santos"
A mostrar 1 - 1 de 1
Resultados por página
Opções de ordenação
- Oral cancer – search trends, readability and quality of online information in Portugal: an online studyPublication . Alves, Pedro Filipe Caldeira dos Santos; Venda Nova, Carolina; Gomes, MarcosBackground: With the internet serving as a primary health information source, many individuals turned to online platforms to learn about medical conditions, including oral cancer. In Portugal, where the incidence of oral cancer is considerable, the quality, readability, and accessibility of online information are essential to public health. Reliable digital resources had the potential to educate the population about risk factors, symptoms, prevention, and treatments, thereby supporting early diagnosis and reducing mortality. However, unregulated content often contained inaccuracies or used complex language, limiting its usefulness. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the quality and readability of Portuguese-language online information on oral cancer. It also analysed public interest through search trends to better understand awareness levels in Portugal. Methods: Fifty websites were selected via Google.pt using the first 25 results for the search terms “cancro oral” and “cancro da boca.” Readability was assessed using Legibilidade.com, which analysed the complexity of Portuguese texts. Quality was evaluated with the DISCERN tool, which measured the usefulness of health information. In addition, Google Trends was used to assess search volume patterns over the past 20 years, identifying public interest shifts and possible influencing events. Results: The study offered an overview of the quality and clarity of online information about oral cancer in Portugal. It revealed whether these resources were aligned with the general population’s literacy levels and tracked the evolution of public interest over time. Conclusions: The findings demonstrated that most Portuguese-language websites on oral cancer lacked both readability and high-quality information, particularly regarding treatment options. These limitations may hinder public understanding, informed decision-making, and timely diagnosis. Improving the clarity and reliability of online health content is essential to support public health efforts, enhance health literacy, and reduce the burden of oral cancer in Portugal.