Objective: Oral cancer ranks as the sixth most common type of cancer. In this context, patients may seek information and professional opinions regarding their condition from websites. Therefore, the readability, reliability, and quality of the information presented on these websites are of significant importance.
Materials and Methods: This study aims to evaluate the informational content, readability, reliability, and quality of Turkish websites that provide information on oral cancer. In this study, websites appearing on the first 20 pages of Google search results for the keyword “ağız kanseri (oral cancer)” were examined. These sites were categorized into two groups based on their creators: Group 1, consisting of health organizations and specialist physicians, and Group 2, including dental clinics, specialized dentists, and general dentists.
Results: Readability was assessed using the Atesman Readability Index, while reliability and quality evaluations were conducted using the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) score, the Quality Criteria for Consumer Health Information (DISCERN), and the General Quality Score (GQS). The content was systematically evaluated based on various fundamental topics, including the definition, etiology, symptoms, risk factors, and treatment of oral cancer.
Conclusion: Of the 64 websites included in the study, 33 (51.56%) were in Group 1, while 31 (48.44%) were in Group 2. The average Atesman Readability Index of the websites was found to be 63.2±7.13, indicating a moderate level of difficulty. The DISCERN, JAMA, and GQS values were higher for Group 1.