Quality and Readability of Online Health Resources for Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) or acne inversa is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterised by painful nodules that significantly diminish quality of life. Patients diagnosed with HS commonly utilise online resources to gain insight into their condition. This study aimed to assess the readability, quality and relevance of 115 online HS resources found via Google. It was found that most of the websites exceeded the recommended 6th-grade reading level, with the average being around the 11th-grade level. JAMA and DISCERN criteria were used to assess the quality of the resources, which revealed limited reliability and timeliness. Our findings emphasise the need for accessible, high-quality, and up-to-date online resources to support informed decision-making for HS patients and promote prompt medical care.