"What Are Patients Reading?"-An Evaluation of the Content and Language Accessibility of Thyroid Cancer Information at National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Centers.

INTRODUCTION

Patients with thyroid cancer (TC) frequently rely on the internet for guidance during diagnosis and treatment. While the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is a trusted source of information, little is known about the completeness of content and language accessibility of TC information on independent NCI-designated cancer center (NCI-DCC) websites. This study aimed to evaluate TC information and language accessibility presented on NCI-DCC websites.

METHODS

We systematically reviewed all NCI-DCC websites using the search terms "thyroid," "thyroid nodule," and "thyroid cancer." Using a standardized list of key categories abstracted from the NCI webpage about TC, pairs of reviewers independently evaluated each NCI-DCC website and resolved discrepancies by consensus. All webpages were assessed for accessibility in non-English languages.

RESULTS

Of 66 NCI-DCCs, seven websites reproduced the NCI's information on TC and two lacked any TC information. Across the remaining 57 websites, most TC pages included disease definitions (77.2%), histologic types (91.2%), anatomy & function (80.7%), symptoms (84.2%), and diagnosis (89.5%). Few NCI-DCCs described staging (31.6%), recurrence (45.6%), treatment side effects (42.1%), or active surveillance (26.3%). Out of 57 NCI-DCCs, 15 (26.3%) offered information on TC in at least one non-English language.

CONCLUSIONS

While many NCI-DCC websites provide foundational information on TC, substantial gaps remain in information about staging, recurrence, side effects of treatment, or active surveillance. Very few websites offered information in other languages, widening disparities for patients with limited English proficiency. Incomplete information may also leave English-speaking patients with partial or misunderstanding of their cancer diagnosis and treatment options.