Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: A cross-sectional survey assessing the quality of information on the Internet.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of information and readability of online content regarding medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ).

STUDY

DESIGN

Three search engines were used to identify websites containing information regarding MRONJ. The content was assessed with 5 quality of information and readability tools. Statistical analyses were performed via GraphPad Software (GraphPad Software Inc., La Jolla, Calif, United States).

RESULTS

The Health on the Net (HONcode) seal was present in 2 of the 21 websites that satisfied inclusion/exclusion criteria. The mean JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) benchmark satisfied per website was 1.619 out of 4 (standard deviation [SD] = 1.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-2.17). The mean overall Quality Evaluation Scoring Tool score was 15.29 out of a maximum 28 (SD = 6.174; 95% CI, 12.48-18.1). The Quality Evaluation Scoring Tool scores of those websites that satisfied ≥3 JAMA criteria were significantly higher than those that did not (P = .01; 95% CI, -11.41 to -1.79). The readability levels of all content ranged from fairly difficult to very difficult.

CONCLUSIONS

The information related to MRONJ on the Internet is unreliable and too difficult for the general public to read. Authors of online MRONJ information should consider use of quality of information and readability tools to ensure that reliable information is understood by those with poor health literacy skills.