Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34995206›Full record

ArticleJMIR formative research2022

Assessing COVID-19 Health Information on Google Using the Quality Evaluation Scoring Tool (QUEST): Cross-sectional and Readability Analysis.

Vismaya S Bachu, Heba Mahjoub, Albert E Holler, Tudor Crihalmeanu, Dheevena M Bachu, Varun Ayyaswami, Pearman D Parker, Arpan V Prabhu

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR formative research, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Vismaya S BachuSchool of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8685-1572
Heba MahjoubSchool of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0361-920X
Albert E HollerSchool of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4802-5250
Tudor CrihalmeanuSchool of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2266-0101
Dheevena M BachuDepartment of Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9182-9185
Varun AyyaswamiDepartment of Internal Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6779-9051
Pearman D ParkerCollege of Nursing, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1832-0945
Arpan V PrabhuDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Winthrop P Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Little Rock, AR, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9928-2911

Funding

Expanding Translational Research in ArkansasUL1TR003107 · NCATS · UNIV OF ARKANSAS FOR MED SCIS · PI JAMES, LAURA P · 2019 to 2023
$21.6M
Institutional Career DevelopmentKL2TR003108 · NCATS · UNIV OF ARKANSAS FOR MED SCIS · PI ARTHUR, JOHN M., BORSHEIM, ELISABET · 2019 to 2023
$2.3M
NCATS NIH HHS KL2 TR003108NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR003107
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic spurred an increase in online information regarding disease spread and symptomatology.

objectiveOur purpose is to systematically assess the quality and readability of articles resulting from frequently Google-searched COVID-19 terms in the United States.

methodsWe used Google Trends to determine the 25 most commonly searched health-related phrases between February 29 and April 30, 2020. The first 30 search results for each term were collected, and articles were analyzed using the Quality Evaluation Scoring Tool (QUEST). Three raters scored each article in authorship, attribution, conflict of interest, currency, complementarity, and tone. A readability analysis was conducted.

resultsExactly 709 articles were screened, and 195 fulfilled inclusion criteria. The mean article score was 18.4 (SD 2.6) of 28, with 7% (14/189) scoring in the top quartile. National news outlets published the largest share (70/189, 36%) of articles. Peer-reviewed journals attained the highest average QUEST score compared to national/regional news outlets, national/state government sites, and global health organizations (all P<.05). The average reading level was 11.7 (SD 1.9, range 5.4-16.9). Only 3 (1.6%) articles were written at the recommended sixth grade level.

conclusionsCOVID-19-related articles are vastly varied in their attributes and levels of bias, and would benefit from revisions for increased readability.

Indexed as

COVID-19COVID-19 pandemiccross-sectionalhealth literacyinternetonline health informationqualityQUESTreadabilityspreadsymptomtrendUnited States

Identifiers

PMID34995206
PMCPMC8843082

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.