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1.
Ann R Coll Surg Engl ; 2023 Apr 13.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2302243

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Anosmia can have a significant impact on well-being and quality of life. Due to an ageing population and the coronavirus disease 2019, increasing numbers of patients are seeking online information on anosmia. This report systematically assesses the readability and quality of online information on anosmia. METHODS: The terms 'anosmia' and 'loss of smell' were entered into Google. The first 50 websites generated for each search term were screened. Readability was assessed using the Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease Score (FRES), Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) Index and Gunning Fog Index (GFI). Quality was assessed using the DISCERN instrument. Spearman's correlation between quality and readability was calculated. RESULTS: A total of 79 websites met the inclusion criteria. The mean and 95% confidence interval for the FRES, FKGL, SMOG, GFI and DISCERN scores were 46.31 (42.94-49.68), 12.00 (11.27-12.73), 10.70 (10.16-11.23), 14.62 (13.85-15.39) and 2.90 (2.69-3.11), respectively. Significant negative correlation was noted between the DISCERN and FRES (rs=-0.500; p<0.05). DISCUSSION: Online information on anosmia is written above the recommended reading age guidance in the UK, and has moderate deficiencies in quality. As a result, the information may be used inappropriately and could result in worse health outcomes. We recommend that patients are directed to websites produced by health providers or nonprofit organisations that develop material for patient health education. CONCLUSIONS: Online information on anosmia is of low readability and moderate quality. Healthcare professionals should direct patients towards high-quality resources written for the layperson.

2.
Health Promot J Austr ; 2022 May 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2303416

ABSTRACT

ISSUE ADDRESSED: This study evaluated the readability of web pages from two public-facing Victorian government websites that were responsible for communicating key health messages relating to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. METHODS: Webpages were downloaded and filtered to identify relevant materials (English language materials containing HTML files that referred to COVID-19). The files were converted to text files and two Python packages, SpaCy and TextStat were used to obtain the data presented here. In addition to running two well-established readability tests, SMOG Index (Simple Measure of Gobbledygook) and Flesch Reading Ease formula, we also calculated the figures for sentence length and word length, which drive the readability measures and allow a disaggregated view of the data. Type token ratio measures were conducted as a reflection of the breadth of vocabulary used in the web pages. RESULTS: Derived measures of text complexity were higher than recommended levels of text complexity for health promotion materials, which are generally set at senior primary school levels. This did not vary depending on the intended audience (public or professional). A senior secondary reading level was required for effective engagement with the text published on both sites. CONCLUSIONS: Improving the readability of materials on key government websites where information about COVID-19 is being communicated to the public, represents a low cost and potentially effective means of improving public understanding of the pandemic and the steps individuals need to take to protect themselves and the community. SO WHAT?: Given the challenges widely identified in ensuring compliance with protective behaviours, confidence in seeking vaccination and increasing distrust of government, it would be strategic to improve public communication to ensure health messages are simple and readily understood. SUMMARY: The complexity and readability of text contained in web pages during 2020 from two Victorian government departments were evaluated. Communication regarding the restrictions and the management of risks associated with COVID-19 was the main focus of these 367 individual web pages from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Department of Education and Training (DET). Results indicated that across both sites and on both readability measures used, an education level equivalent to senior secondary school would be required to readily understand the contents.

4.
J Community Health ; 46(5): 913-917, 2021 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2260104

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic first became evident at the end of 2019, and because of the many unknown aspects of this emerging infectious disease, the internet quickly became a source of information for consumers. It is important for any vital information to be written unambiguously, and at a level that can be understood by all people regardless of education levels. The purpose of this study was to assess the readability of 50 sources of COVID19 testing information online. Only 6 websites out of 50 received an appropriate readability score on more than one assessment. One-sample, one-tailed t-tests (α = 0.05, df = 49) were used to see if the websites with information on COVID-19 testing are being written at appropriate reading levels. The resulting p-values indicate that each p-value recorded is substantially below 0.05, it is very unlikely that websites on this topic are being written at the recommended levels. Even the optimal messages on COVID-19 reflect a confusing and rapidly changing public health crisis, however if messages are kept simple and clear, individuals will have the best possible chance of optimizing behavioral mitigation strategies. These are compelling reasons for informational hosts to take necessary steps to ensure that messages are written in as simple terms as possible. To this end, it is suggested that internet sites dispersing COVID-19 testing information build in text analysis methods for all published messages, particularly those meant to inform best health practices in the time of a pandemic.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 Testing , COVID-19/prevention & control , Comprehension , Health Literacy , Internet , COVID-19/epidemiology , Humans , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2
5.
Managerial Auditing Journal ; 38(1):85-128, 2023.
Article in English | Scopus | ID: covidwho-2244213

ABSTRACT

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the effect of firms' sustainability practices on firm performance and valuation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: Using a sample of Australian listed firms from 2011 to 2021, the authors perform textual analysis on sustainability practices from annual reports and sustainability report disclosures and include this variable in various regression models that assess firm valuation. The authors also use propensity score matching and Heckman two-stage regression methodology to address endogeneity concerns. Findings: The authors find that firms disclosing sustainability practices exhibit higher market valuations relative to other firms. Specifically, loss-making firms exhibit higher market valuation during the COVID-19 crisis relative to prior period. The authors also observe a negative association between sustainability practices and firm performance proxied by return on assets. The findings suggest that engagement in sustainable practices helps loss-making firms remain resilient during the pandemic. In addition, the authors find that the positive relation between sustainability practices and firm value is stronger among firms with a higher level of annual report readability. Originality/value: Considering the conflicting evidence in the literature on the economic benefits of sustainability practices, this study takes advantage of the heterogeneity in corporate practices and provides empirical evidence that a firm's sustainability practices can build economic resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. The authors believe the findings of the study is timely in informing the regulators and standard-setters on changes in reporting required to increase sustainability in the business practices. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.

6.
Ophthalmol Glaucoma ; 2022 Aug 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2245086

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the quality and reliability of medical information, the technical quality of the presentation of information, and the readability of informational websites that publish content on the definition, causes, symptoms, and treatment of glaucoma. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess information published on websites with regard to glaucoma. SUBJECTS: The top 150 websites populated on a Google search using the keywords glaucoma, high intraocular pressure, and high eye pressure were chosen for evaluation. METHODS: Two independent reviewers assessed quality and reliability of each website using the DISCERN, Health on the Net Code (HONcode), and Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) criteria. The reviewers also evaluated technical quality by determining each website's ability to satisfy 10 unique features. Readability was assessed using the Readability Studio software (Oleander Software). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Quality of information was analyzed using the DISCERN, HONcode, and JAMA criteria. To assess readability, the Bormuth Cloze Mean, Bormuth Grade Placement, Flesch Kincaid Reading Ease, Coleman-Liau Index, Gunning Fog Score, Simple Measure of Gobbledygook Index, Readability Score, Fry Estimate, Raygor Estimate, and the Overall Mean Readability metrics were used. A separate subanalysis categorized websites into institutional and private categories. RESULTS: Readability was poor among all websites, with most websites requiring a reading level higher than the 11th grade. The overall mean DISCERN score ± standard deviation (SD) was 3.0 ± 0.4, the mean HONcode score ± SD was 9.6 ± 1.8, and the mean JAMA score ± SD was 2.1 ± 1.1. The reviewers had moderate to excellent interrater reliability. Institutional websites (n = 39) had a higher mean DISCERN score (3.18 ± 0.33 vs. 2.95 ± 0.39, P < 0.05) and mean HONcode score (10.18 ± 1.90 vs. 9.34 ± 1.71, P < 0.05) than those of private websites (n = 111). Technical quality was higher among institutional websites (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: An overwhelming majority of websites presented information of low quality, reliability, and readability. Institutional websites generally received higher scores than those received by private websites; however, overall scores were still substandard, which necessitates improvement of online information on glaucoma.

7.
International Journal of Educational Methodology ; 8(1):55-68, 2022.
Article in English | ProQuest Central | ID: covidwho-1824321

ABSTRACT

During the pandemic of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), English as a foreign language (EFL) students have to study and submit their assignments and quizzes through online systems using electronic files instead of hardcopies. This has created an opportunity for teachers to use computer tools to conduct preliminary assessment of the students' writing performance and then give advice to them timely. Hence, this paper proposed some indicators which were essay readability scored by Flesch Reading Ease (FRE), length of essays, errors in writing and a method to assist the teachers in providing writing feedback to the students. The results showed a large difference in FRE, the number of words, sentences, paragraphs and errors. The K-means clustering findings were applied to classify groups of students based on writing proficiency indicators. The findings also revealed that the number of words and sentences in the essays indicated some deficiencies. The concept of paragraph should be reinforced while some specific errors such as misspelling, grammatical and typographical errors found need to be eliminated. This study showcased that the computer tools should be integrated to process the students' essays so that the teachers can pinpoint the problems and make suggestions to their students in appropriate time. Lastly, the results can be served as the guidelines for the teachers to develop and adjust teaching materials pertinent to writing to enhance the writing performance of EFL learners.

8.
Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship ; 11(1), 2022.
Article in English | ProQuest Central | ID: covidwho-1823971

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to examine the readability levels of the state departments of education guidance documents regarding COVID-19 protocols for families of students receiving special education services. The authors searched the 50 states and the District of Columbia's departments of education websites for their COVID-19, special education, parental guidance documents for the 2020-2021 school year. Parental guidance documents were available from 90% (46/51) of the department of education websites with 61% (31/51) of those documents specifically designed for parents of children receiving special education services. The researchers used the Flesch Reading Ease (FRES) to analyze the reading level of the 31 documents that the departments of education websites created for families of individuals receiving special education services. The FRES score was 43.05, indicating that the average reading difficulty was "difficult" with a "college reading level." The Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) average score for the reviewed documents revealed an average U.S. grade level of 12.34. Thus, documents produced during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly exceeded the appropriate reading level recommended by the current research (Nagro & Stein, 2016). To improve communication and provide caregivers with the necessary information to make informed decisions regarding their children's educational need during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential for parental guidance documents to be written at lower reading levels to accommodate the general population.

9.
Journal of Consumer Health on the Internet ; 26(4):373-395, 2022.
Article in English | ProQuest Central | ID: covidwho-2160686

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo investigate whether the authoritative COVID-19 consumer health information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States (U.S.) and the World Health Organization (WHO) is at low readability levels (i.e., at or below a sixth-grade reading level). Major public health organizations, such as these have quickly distributed authoritative COVID-19 health information on the Internet during the pandemic. However, scant research has assessed whether the information disseminated by these two major public health organizations enables access by adults from the general public. This study examines the Flesch-Kincaid grade levels of the COVID-19 health information in English distributed by the CDC and the WHO.DesignThe study is guided by communication and information science frameworks. It examines the reading level of the resources to see if they are compatible with the guidelines of the American Medical Association for patient education materials.Methods/settingThe methodology used centered on content and document analyses. The samples analyzed were identified through accessing the COVID-19 health information shared on the websites of the public library systems of the twenty largest cities in the U.S.Key resultsThe results show that the documents reviewed in the study are not compatible with the sixth-grade reading level recommended by the American Medical Association for patient education materials.

10.
Managerial Auditing Journal ; 2022.
Article in English | Web of Science | ID: covidwho-2070248

ABSTRACT

Purpose - This paper aims to investigate the effect of firms sustainability practices on firm performance and valuation during the COVLD-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach - Using a sample of Australian listed firms from 2011 to 2021, the authors perform textual analysis on sustainability practices from annual reports and sustainability report disclosures and include this variable in various regression models that assess firm valuation. The authors also use propensity score matching and Heckman two-stage regression methodology to address endogeneity concerns. Findings - The authors find that flints disclosing sustainability practices exhibit higher market valuations relative to other firms. Specifically, lass-making fins exhibit higher market valuation during the COVID-19 crisis relative to prior period. The authors also observe a negative association between sustainability practices and firm performance proxied by return on assets. The findings suggest that engagement in sustainable practices helps loss-making firms remain resilient during the pandemic In addition, the authors find that the positive relation between sustainability practices and firm value is stronger among firms with a higher level of annual report readability. Originality/value - Considering the conflicting evidence in the literature on the economic benefits of sustainability practices, this study takes advantage of the heterogeneity in corporate practices and provides empirical evidence that a firm's sustainability practices can build economic resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. The authors believe the findings of the study is timely in informing the regulators and standard-setters on changes in reporting required to increase sustainability in the business practices.

11.
Hospital Employee Health ; 41(10):114-115, 2022.
Article in English | CINAHL | ID: covidwho-2044503

ABSTRACT

The article reports that the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CDC) is pursuing a revamp and culture change after taking responsibility for its haphazard response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Topics covered include some of the key findings and recommendations of James Macrae who conducted a review in April 2022 on the agency's pandemic response, the plan of the agency to create a new executive council tasked to determine priorities, track progress, and align budget decisions.

12.
2nd IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Technologies, CONIT 2022 ; 2022.
Article in English | Scopus | ID: covidwho-2029205

ABSTRACT

e-learning has become an important part of the education system. This is more so in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are a wide range of e-learning platforms available online and offering courses ranging from beginner to advanced levels. Such courses are accessible to nearly everyone around the world who has access to the internet. The readers and learners look for engaging content which will enhance their knowledge and skills in the respective field through e-learning. In order to provide the learners with effective learning, the content should be readable and easy to understand. The motives of the present study are multifold. The presented results will be helpful to the designers as well as creators of e-learning courses in maximizing the learner's attention span, content comprehension, ease of understanding and engagement with the e-course. To the best of our knowledge, this is first formal attempt for the analysis of the transcripts of the e-learning courses. Technically, we deploy five readability indices namely Flesch Readability Index (FRI), Gunning Fog Index (GFI), Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), Coleman-Liau Index (CLI), and Automated Readability Index (ARI) for the study. The calculations have been additionally fortified using Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF). More than 1200 transcripts have been analyzed and vital statistics presented. It is concluded that the transcripts for the beginners should have a word range of 600- 900 while that for the intermediate and advanced learners should have an optimum word count value of around 1050. © 2022 IEEE.

13.
Health Policy ; 126(10): 970-979, 2022 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2015330

ABSTRACT

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is still widespread. During the pandemic, the internet has been the preferred channel for health-related information, especially for less-educated citizens who tend to be the most hesitant about vaccination. A well-structured web communication strategy could help both to overcome vaccine hesitancy and to ensure equity in healthcare service access. This study investigated how the various regional and local health authorities in Italy used their institutional websites to inform users about COVID-19 vaccinations between March and April 2021. We browsed 129 institutional websites, checking the availability, quality and quantity, actionability and readability of information using a literature-based common grid. Descriptive statistics and statistical tests were performed. The online public dissemination of COVID-19 vaccination information in Italy was fragmented, both across and within regions. The side effects of vaccinations, were often not reported on the websites, thus missing an opportunity to enhance vaccination uptake. More focus should also be placed on readability, since readability indexes showed that they were difficult to understand. Our research revealed that several actions could be implemented to enhance online communication on COVID-19 vaccination. For instance, simplifying texts can make them more understandable and the information reported actionable.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 Vaccines , COVID-19 , COVID-19/prevention & control , Communication , Humans , Pandemics/prevention & control , Vaccination
14.
Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting ; 2022.
Article in English | Scopus | ID: covidwho-1973400

ABSTRACT

Purpose: This paper aims to examine the relationship between the readability of annual reports and corporate performance in Chinese listed firms. Design/methodology/approach: This research examined the annual report readability factors of Chinese listed companies by using a textual analysis method using Python to extract the text from the annual reports, convert it into numerical form to facilitate statistical analysis and then merge the results with data from the Chinese stock market to explain the impact on corporate performance and predict future earnings in the Chinese financial markets from 2008 to 2021. Findings: Study findings indicate that firms with better financial reporting readability are more profitable, incur lower agency costs and have low earnings in the Chinese stock markets when readability is low (i.e. more complexity and length of annual reports). It was also found that when a listed company has a good performance, it prefers to use a short space to explain its operating and financial status. More generally, the means of the report length are short, and accounting terms are used less frequently;in the case of a poor company, the annual report is particularly long and accounting terms are more frequently used. In the context of the COVID-19 crisis, this study served as a proxy measure of returns prior to the announcement of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, an instrumental variable approach is used, which helps results to remain robust and control for fixed effects and potential endogeneity problems. Research limitations/implications: Although this study’s results cannot be generalised globally because of their limited scope, they can still be generalised across non-English speaking countries. Thus, future cross-country research is encouraged to examine the textual analysis of financial reports across those countries. Practical implications: This study conveys two messages to investors and policymakers within the Chinese market. First, investors ought to pay greater attention to the nonfinancial information contained in annual reports to improve the accuracy of their predictions regarding future firm performance. Second, Chinese policymakers are encouraged to instate a policy for the use of plain English in annual reports to make them more readable by international investors. Originality/value: This study contributes to the paucity of research that examines English-written annual reports in non-English speaking countries by examining the readability of annual reports in the Chinese market. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.

15.
PeerJ ; 10: e13686, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1954768

ABSTRACT

Background: The use of the Internet to access healthcare-related information is increasing day by day. However, there are concerns regarding the reliability and comprehensibility of this information. This study aimed to investigate the readability, reliability, and quality of Internet-based patient educational materials (PEM) related to "post-COVID-19 pain." Methods: One-hundred websites that fit the purposes of the study were identified by searching for the terms "post-COVID-19 pain" and "pain after COVID-19" using the Google search engine on February 24, 2022. The website readability was assessed using the Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES), Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), and Gunning FOG (GFOG). The reliability, quality, and popularity of the websites were assessed using the JAMA score, DISCERN score/Health on the Net Foundation code of conduct, and Alexa, respectively. Results: Upon investigation of the textual contents, the mean FRES was 51.40 ± 10.65 (difficult), the mean FKGL and SMOG were 10.93 ± 2.17 and 9.83 ± 1.66 years, respectively, and the mean GFOG was 13.14 ± 2.16 (very difficult). Furthermore, 24.5% of the websites were highly reliable according to JAMA scores, 8% were of high quality according to GQS values, and 10% were HONcode-compliant. There was a statistically significant difference between the website types and reliability (p = 0.003) and quality scores (p = 0.002). Conclusion: The readability level of PEM on post-COVID-19 pain was considerably higher than grade 6 educational level, as recommended by the National Institutes of Health, and had low reliability and poor quality. We suggest that Internet-based PEM should have a certain degree of readability that is in accordance with the educational level of the general public and feature reliable content.

16.
BMC Med Inform Decis Mak ; 22(1): 131, 2022 05 13.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1846832

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant morbidity and mortality. To mitigate its spread, members in the general population were prompted to apply significant behavioral changes. This required an effective dissemination of understandable information accessible for people with a wide range of literacy backgrounds. The aim of this study was to investigate the readability, understandability and language accessibility of Swedish consumer-oriented websites containing information about COVID-19. METHODS: Websites were identified through systematic searches in Google.se (n = 76), and were collected in May 2020 when the pandemic spread started in Sweden. Readability and understandability were assessed with the Readability Index, the Ensuring Quality Information for Patients (EQIP) tool, and the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool Understandability subscale (PEMAT-PU). RESULTS: The median total sample score for Readability Index was 42.0, with the majority of scores being classified as moderate (n = 30, 39%) or difficult (n = 43, 57%). Median total sample scores were for EQIP 54.0% (IQR = 17.0, Range = 8-75) and for PEMAT-PU 60.0% (IQR = 14.75, Range = 12-87). The majority of the websites did not have any texts or links containing information in an alternative language (n = 58, 76%). CONCLUSIONS: Swedish websites contained information of difficult readability and understandability at the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, with few providing information available in alternative languages. It is possible that these deficits contributed to the spread and impact of the virus. There is a need for studies investigating methods aiming to enhance the readability, understandability and language accessibility of web-based information at the beginning of an epidemic or pandemic.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Health Literacy , Comprehension , Cross-Sectional Studies , Humans , Internet , Language , Pandemics , Sweden
17.
6th International Conference on Computational Intelligence and Communication Technology, CICT 2021 ; 399:107-114, 2022.
Article in English | Scopus | ID: covidwho-1826291

ABSTRACT

The World Wide Web has become one of the most important resources for the large part of the population in searching healthcare information. The available COVID-19 information on Websites should be reliable and accurate in order to spread awareness. This has become all the more important in times like COVID-19, pandemic situation when it is necessary to create awareness about the disease to large population in a country like India and also provide updated information and status of the situation. However, readability poses barrier for many people. In this paper, readability of online information related to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is evaluated using online readability tool. It was found that the readability of content addressing COVID-19 is satisfactory. But the absence of multilanguage option in majority of Websites under study forms another barrier in information dissemination. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

18.
Front Public Health ; 9: 725840, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1775845

ABSTRACT

Background: Health literacy, a recently determined construct plays an important role in how individuals are able to manage their health. A useful approach for the assessment of health literacy is to measure the comprehension of available patient education materials (PEMs). Objective: We aimed at assessing the usefulness of PEMS available in Hungarian by testing comprehension of selected PEMs in different groups of users. Methods: Comprehension of patient education materials in the domain of healthcare was tested by selecting PEMs and creating questions based on their text in 3 dimensions of health literacy: understand, process/appraise, apply/use. Twenty questions were created that could be answered without pre-existing knowledge by reading the appropriate text taken from PEMs. Comprehension was examined in four groups: laypersons, non-professional healthcare workers, 1st year healthcare students, and 5th year medical students. Readability indices were calculated for the same texts to which questions were created. Results: Laypersons answered <50% of the PEMs-based questions correctly. Non-professional healthcare workers performed better with 57% of right answers but significantly worse than healthcare students or medical students. Those with at least high school qualification (maturity exam) showed significantly higher comprehension compared to those with lower educational attainment. Persons in good or very good health also had significantly better comprehension than those in less favorable health. All readability indices showed that comprehension of the tested PEMs required at least 10 years of schooling or more. Therefore, these PEMS are difficult to understand for persons with less than high school level of education. Conclusion: Rephrasing of the investigated patient educational materials would be recommended so that they better fit the educational attainment of the Hungarian population. Evaluation of the readability and comprehensibility of other PEMs also seems warranted.


Subject(s)
Health Literacy , Comprehension , Educational Status , Humans , Patient Education as Topic
19.
Journalism and Media ; 3(1):228, 2022.
Article in English | ProQuest Central | ID: covidwho-1765763

ABSTRACT

To address the COVID-19 pandemic, as with other infectious diseases, a key intervention is vaccination. Health communications are thus of vital importance for informing the public on the benefits and risks of vaccines. This in turn makes the readability of media content fundamental. Previous studies of COVID-19-related information have found the readability of online information considerably more difficult than recommended. However, studies on the readability of information related to COVID-19 vaccination in Asian contexts have yet to be carried out. Furthermore, especially in the case of the current pandemic, health information is communicated by a variety of information channels, including the internet and mass media. This paper investigates the readability of textual information on COVID-19 vaccination found online and in newspaper articles in parts of Asia where English is one of the main languages, namely Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. Readability was assessed using a set of readability tests (Flesch–Kincaid Reading Ease, Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level, Gunning Fog Index, Coleman–Liau Index, and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook Grade level). It was found that a low proportion of URLs scored within recommended readability thresholds, and did so consistently across locations and types of sources. Furthermore, a relatively low proportion of web searches returned information from local sources;most URLs linked to sources outside of Singapore, Hong Kong, or the Philippines. Further, local online and newspaper sources scored similarly poorly on readability on average compared to non-local sources. Understanding of fast-evolving health communications concerning COVID-19 vaccination encompasses information about vaccine development and deployment from other locations, as well as locally. Nevertheless, these findings indicated a fairly low proportion of local sources among the top search results, and relatively low (i.e., difficult-to-read) readability scores for top search results and for local newspapers. An important issue for health communications strategies addressing COVID-19 vaccination will therefore be to consider different types of media sources in order to achieve the right mix of local and non-local sources while also ensuring appropriate readability.

20.
Journalism and Media ; 3(1):134, 2022.
Article in English | ProQuest Central | ID: covidwho-1765762

ABSTRACT

The web publishing strategy of media organizations is a very important factor in their success. The aim of the strategy is to cover their audience’s news article consumption needs, but is this valid? In order to address this question, this paper compares data from two studies, namely a study that explored the publishing patterns of the top 22 Greek media websites and a second study that focused on web news article consumption habits. The results indicate that there are various deviations between the compared data, and thus the study concludes that Greek media organization publishing strategy is not aligned with the audience consumption needs. The identified discrepancies have to do with the published news articles after 14:00 during weekdays as well as the news articles that are available during weekends. Additionally, it seems that media organizations publish a very limited number of articles on specific thematic categories that the audience is interested in reading. Specific actions were also proposed in order to alleviate those deviations and thus improve the readability of the media organizations.

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