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An Evaluation of Internet Websites Provided by Radiotherapy Departments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2007

Emma King
Emma King*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health and Social Care, University of the West of England, Glenside Campus, Bristol, UK
*
Correspondence to: Emma King, Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre, Horfield Road, Bristol BS2 8ED, UK. Email: emma.king@ubht.nhs.uk
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Abstract

The research identifies and evaluates the content and readability of Websites of all radiotherapy departments that provide a Website. As more patients are being referred for radiotherapy treatment each year, the information needs of the public on this subject is growing. Fifty-two per cent of radiotherapy departments within the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland were identified as providing a Website. These Websites were evaluated, over a period of 2 weeks, using an adapted Website evaluation tool. Five criteria – content, authority, navigation, design and technical aspects – were identified as important aspects of a Website. For each criterion a number of statements were listed and using a Likert scale were marked. Flesch–Kincaid readability tests were used to analyse the readability level of the Websites. Data analysis resulted in the ranking of the Websites. Evaluation scores varied greatly and the readability tests showed 92% of the Websites were written at a level too high for the public. This shows the varying quality of radiotherapy department Websites with scores ranging from 48 to 115, and the varying readability level of these Websites. The research makes suggestions for the improvement of radiotherapy department Websites including the provision of a dedicated Website team within the department, educated in Website design.

Keywords

EvaluationInternetradiotherapy departments
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice , Volume 6 , Issue 2 , June 2007 , pp. 111 - 120
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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