Is the Quality of Toothache-Related Information Published in Brazilian Websites Adequate to Assist People in Seeking Dental Treatment?

Author(s)

Lotto, Matheus ^[1] ; Aguirre, Patricia Estefania Ayala ^[1] ; Lourenco Neto, Natalino ^[1] ; Cruvinel, Agnes Fatima ^[2] ; Cruvinel, Thiago ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Bauru Sch Dent, Dept Pediat Dent Orthodont & Publ Hlth, Al Dr Octavio Pinheiro Brisolla 9-75, Vila Univ, BR-17012901 Bauru, SP - Brazil

^[2] Fed Univ Fronteira Sul, Sch Med, Discipline Publ Hlth, Rodovia SC 484 Km 02, BR-89815899 Chapeco, SC - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ORAL HEALTH & PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY; v. 18, n. 2, p. 301-309, MAR-APR 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the readability and the quality of toothache-related information found in Brazilian websites. Materials and Methods: Fifty-five websites retrieved from Google Search, Baidu, Yahoo! and Bing were evaluated by two independent examiners using the DISCERN questionnaire, the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria and the Flesch Reading Ease adapted to Brazilian Portuguese (FRE-BP). Additionally, the websites were categorised according to their information, adopting four criteria related to: (i) endodontic pain, (ii) toothache relief or treatment, (iii) the self-resolution of pain, and (iv) the promotion of home remedies usage. The statistical analysis was performed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, Mann-Whitney U test, hierarchical clustering analysis by Ward's minimum variance method, Kruskal-Wallis test, post-hoc Dunn's test and Chisquare test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The overall means (+/- SD) of DISCERN and FRE-BP were, respectively, 31.02 (+/- 5.56) and 61.20 (+/- 11.79), without quality-based differences between the websites with health- and non-health-related authors, and distinct clusters. Conclusion: Therefore, the quality of toothache-related information found in this sample of Brazilian websites was classified as simple. accessible and of poor quality, which can hamper the personal decision-making process of seeking dental treatment, leading to damages caused by the non-effective self-management of toothache. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/25899-7 - Randomized clinical trial: evaluation of the effectiveness of an application for mobile phones as an aid in the prevention of early childhood caries
• Grantee: Matheus Lotto de Almeida Souza
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 14/21292-2 - Search trends and quality of information about toothache on the internet
• Grantee: Matheus Lotto de Almeida Souza
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation