{
  "abstract": "Background\n\nThe internet has revolutionised the way in which patients obtain information regarding their health. In order to be accessible, Health Education England recommend patient information should be at the reading age of an average 11-year-old. Effective management of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is complex and includes a combination of medical (including aspirin desensitisation and biological treatments) and surgical therapy to improve quality of life and reduce recurrence. We objectively assess the quality and readability of online patient materials on AERD.\n\nMethods\n\nThe three search engines utilised were Google (Google LLC, Mountain View, CA, USA), Bing (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, USA) and Yahoo (Yahoo Inc., New York City, NY, USA). Three specific search terms (‘Samter’s Triad’, ‘ASA Triad’, and 'AERD') were used to identify the top 40 websites from each search result. After applying eligibility criteria, a total of 30 websites were finally analysed. Selected websites were assessed for readability using the Flesch-Kincaid Reading Ease Score (FRES), Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), and the Gunning-Fog Index (GFI). The quality of information available online was also assessed using the DISCERN tool.\n\nResults\n\nThe average FRES was 36.95, which correlates to a US grade level of 11.5 (16-17-year-olds). The average GFI score was 15.07, which equals that of a 21-year-old. According to the DISCERN criteria, the overall quality of the health information was poor.\n\nConclusion\n\nHealth information available on the internet regarding AERD is overall of poor quality. The information available is written above Health Education England’s recommended reading level, which may reduce a patient’s understanding of AERD. As more patients turn to the internet to obtain health information, it is of utmost importance that information is validated and evidence-based to counter the spread of misinformation.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Otolaryngology, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, London, GBR",
    "Foundation Programme, Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, GBR",
    "Otolaryngology, St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, GBR"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Faiz A Shaikh"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Huseyin Turacli"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Rakesh Mistry"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Raj Lakhani"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bwn6hrbpxnetp.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.7759/cureus.117217",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13721626/?tool=EBI",
  "id": "bwn6hrbpxnetp",
  "issns": [
    "2168-8184"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13721626",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Allergy/Immunology"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Epidemiology/Public Health"
    ],
    [
      "heading",
      "Pulmonology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3600|Health Literacy and Information Accessibility"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214889601",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13721626/pdf/?tool=EBI",
  "pmcid": "PMC13721626",
  "pmid": "42964724",
  "published": "2026-09-30",
  "publisher": "Cureus Inc.",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bwn6hrbpxnetp.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-31T12:21:36Z",
      "native_id": "PMC:PMC13721626",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13721626"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-03T12:22:17Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13721626",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.117217"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "journal-openalex:F27",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Assessing the Readability and Quality of Online Patient Information Regarding Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease",
  "title_text": "Assessing the Readability and Quality of Online Patient Information Regarding Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-03T12:22:17Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bwn6hrbpxnetp",
  "venue": "Cureus",
  "versions": []
}