Inflammatory bowel disease: An evaluation of health information on the internet

Table 2 Summarizes websites included in the study on inflammatory bowel disease included in the study: The accuracy scores (calculated using the DISCERN score and the HONcode score) and the readability scores

No.	Website title, Organisation	URL	Accuracy scores		Readability scores
			The DISCERN Score (mean ± SD)	The HONcode score (Out of 100)*	The Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level Index	The Coleman-Liau Readability Index
1	Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Mayo Clinic	http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/inflammatory-bowel-disease/basics/definition/con-20034908	65.0 ± 1.0	0.86*	13.1 ± 0.0	15.0 ± 0.0
2	Inflammatory Bowel Disease Health Center, WebMd	http://www.webmd.com/ibd-crohns-disease/	41.3 ± 1.1	0.70*	10.5 ± 3.2	13.3 ± 2.5
3	Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)	http://www.cdc.gov/ibd/	28.7 ± 0.6	0.90	10.9 ± 2.7	13.3 ± 0.6
4	Inflammatory Bowel Disease, NHS Choices	http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/inflammatory-bowel-disease/pages/introduction.aspx	53.7 ± 0.6	0.63	12.2 ± 1.6	12.3 ± 1.5
5	What are Crohn's and Colitis? Crohn's and Colitis Foundation	http://www.ccfa.org/what-are-crohns-and-colitis/	50.3 ± 0.6	0.81	16.2 ± 9.3	13.7 ± 0.6
6	Inflammatory Bowel Disease, KidsHealth	http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/digestive/ibd.html	50.7 ± 0.6	0.45	12.0 ± 0.7	11.7 ± 0.6
7	Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). FamilyDoctor	http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/inflammatory-bowel-disease.html	45.0 ± 1.0	0.63*	9.6 ± 1.4	10.7 ± 0.6
8	Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Healthline	http://www.healthline.com/health/inflammatory-bowel-disease#Overview1	41.0 ± 1.0	0.59*	8.7 ± 0.6	11.7 ± 0.6
9	Crohn's and Colitis, Australia	https://www.crohnsandcolitis.com.au/about-crohns-colitis/inflammatory-bowel-disease/	41.7 ± 0.6	0.34	13.6 ± 3.2	13.0 ± 1.0
10	Crohn's and Colitis UK	http://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/information-and-support/information-about-ibd/what-is-IBD	60.7 ± 0.6	0.45	10.4 ± 1.6	10.3 ± 3.1
11	Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) (Intestinal Problems of IBD), MedicineNet	http://www.medicinenet.com/inflammatory_bowel_disease_intestinal_problems/article.htm	57.3 ± 1.5	0.75*	13.3 ± 1.5	14.3 ± 1.5
12	Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, Cedars-Sinai	http://www.cedars-sinai.edu/Patients/Programs-and-Services/Inflammatory-Bowel-Disease-Center/	25.7 ± 1.1	0.27	13.1 ± 2.9	14.0 ± 3.6
13	Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Symptoms and Treatment: Livescience	http://www.livescience.com/39880-inflammatory-bowel-disease.html	39.3 ± 0.6	0.27	11.1 ± 1.4	11.3 ± 1.5
14	Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Program, Penn Medicine.org	http://www.pennmedicine.org/gastroenterology/patient-care/gi-diseases/inflammatory-bowel-disease-ibd/	38.0 ± 0.0	0.54	15.1 ± 2.6	13.0 ± 2.0
15	Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Support Groups, IBDsupport.org	http://www.ibdsupport.org/	52.0 ± 1.7	0.61*	12.8 ± 3.7	13.0 ± 3.6
16	Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), ABC Health and wellbeing	http://www.abc.net.au/health/library/stories/2012/02/22/3435688.htm	34.0 ± 0.0	0.45	11.1 ± 0.3	11.3 ± 0.6
17	Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), GIKids	http://www.gikids.org/content/7/en/IBD	31.0 ± 0.0	0.52	12.5 ± 0.3	12.7 ± 0.6
18	Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Vitamin D Council	https://www.vitamindcouncil.org/health-conditions/inflammatory-bowel-disease/	31.3 ± 1.1	0.43	11.0 ± 10.4	10.7 ± 1.5
19	Inflammatory Bowel Disease Symptoms and Diagnosis, Seattle children's	http://www.seattlechildrens.org/medical-conditions/digestive-gastrointestinal-conditions/ibd-symptoms/	37.3 ± 0.6	0.43	8.9 ± 1.0	11.0 ± 1.0
20	Crohn's Disease, Patient.co.uk	http://www.patient.co.uk/health/crohns-disease-leaflet	55.7 ± 1.5	0.59*	8.5 ± 2.0	10.0 ± 1.7
21	Patient Information Crohn's Disease (Beyond and the Basics), Uptodate	http://www.uptodate.com/contents/crohn-disease-beyond-the-basics	36.7 ± 1.1	0.70	11.2 ± 1.9	12.3 ± 0.6
22	Crohn's Disease, Centre for digestive diseases	http://www.cdd.com.au/pages/disease_info/crohns_disease.html	34.7 ± 0.6	0.52	12.0 ± 0.6	14.3 ± 1.1
23	Crohn's Disease, Patients: British Society for Gastroenterology	http://www.bsg.org.uk/patients/general/crohn-s-disease.html	49.7 ± 0.6	0.56	11.3 ± 1.7	10.7 ± 1.1
24	Crohn's Disease, Bupa	http://www.bupa.co.uk/health-information/directory/c/crohns-disease	52.0 ± 0.0	0.77*	8.2 ± 0.5	9.0 ± 1.7
25	Crohn's Disease, University of Maryland Medical Center	http://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/crohns-disease	64.7 ± 1.5	0.81	15.3 ± 4.8	15.0 ± 1.0
26	Crohn's Disease, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Southern Cross	https://www.southerncross.co.nz/AboutTheGroup/HealthResources/MedicalLibrary/tabid/178/vw/1/ItemID/523/Crohns-disease-symptoms-diagnosis-treatment.aspx	42.7 ± 0.6	0.40	13.8 ± 0.3	13.7 ± 0.6
27	Crohn's Disease, American family physician	http://www.aafp.org/afp/2011/1215/p1379.html	42.3 ± 1.1	0.18	9.0 ± 2.9	12.3 ± 4.2
28	What is Crohn's Disease? What Causes Crohn's Disease? MNT	http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/151620.php	45.7 ± 1.5	0.50*	11.2 ± 2.1	10.7 ± 1.5
29	Crohn's Disease, Netdoctor	http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/crohnsdisease.htm	43.0 ± 0.0	0.59	10.0 ± 1.6	12.3 ± 1.5
30	Crohn's Disease, UCSF medical center	http://www.ucsfhealth.org/conditions/crohns_disease/	41.0 ± 1.0	0.40	11.4 ± 0.5	11.3 ± 0.6
31	Crohn's Disease Symptoms and Treatment, US.news Wellness	http://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-wellness/articles/2013/08/03/crohns-disease-symptoms-and-treatment	48.3 ± 0.6	0.50	6.7 ± 0.8	12.3 ± 2.5
32	What are the treatments for Crohn's disease? Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center	http://www.bidmc.org/Centers-and-Departments/Departments/Digestive-Disease-Center/Inflammatory-Bowel-Disease-Program/Crohns-Disease/What-are-the-treatments-for-Crohns-disease.aspx	41.7 ± 1.5	0.59	14.3 ± 2.2	14.3 ± 1.1
33	Diagnosing Crohn's, Crohn's and Me.	http://www.crohnsandme.com/crohns-information/crohns-disease-diagnosis.aspx	43.3 ± 1.1	0.27	13.6 ± 1.1	12.7 ± 2.5
34	Understanding Crohn's Disease, Crohn' and Colitis.	http://www.crohnsandcolitisinfo.com/Crohns/What-is-Crohns-Disease	41.7 ± 0.6	0.45	12.4 ± 2.0	12.0 ± 2.6
35	Learning About Crohn's Disease, National Human Genome Research Institute	http://www.genome.gov/25521854	29.0 ± 0.0	0.40	10.8 ± 0.5	12.3 ± 1.5
36	Crohn's Disease, UPMC Life Changing Medicine	http://www.upmc.com/services/digestive-disorders-center/services/ibd/conditions/pages/crohns-disease.aspx	44.3 ± 0.6	0.27	20.3 ± 9.5	15.0 ± 2.0
37	Crohn's Disease, Cincinnati Children's	http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/c/crohns/	44.7 ± 0.6	0.40	9.3 ± 1.1	10.7 ± 0.6
38	Crohn's Disease, Cleveland clinic	http://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases_conditions/hic_Inflammatory_Bowel_Disease_IBD_QandA/hic_Crohns_Disease	26.3 ± 1.1	0.50*	12.9 ± 1.2	12.3 ± 2.3
39	Treatment of Crohn's Disease, UNC Multidisciplinary Center for IBD Research and Treatment	http://www.med.unc.edu/gi/specialties/ibd/about-ibd/treatment-of-ibd-1/treatment-of-crohns-disease	42.3 ± 0.6	0.45	12.3 ± 0.5	13.3 ± 0.6
40	Crohn's Disease, Emedicine health	http://www.emedicinehealth.com/crohn_disease/article_em.htm	59.3 ± 1.2	0.86*	13.0 ± 1.2	13.0 ± 1.7
41	Understanding Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Australian Gastroenterology Institute.	http://www.nevdgp.org.au/info/gastro/crohns.htm	42.3 ± 1.1	0.27	10.4 ± 0.7	11.3 ± 0.6
42	Crohn's Disease, Health Centers	http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00339/Crohns-Disease.html	37.0 ± 0.0	0.50	11.9 ± 1.1	12.7 ± 1.5
43	Crohn's Disease- An Overview, the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne	http://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Crohns_Disease_an_overview/	33.7 ± 1.1	0.50	7.7 ± 2.0	11.3 ± 1.5
44	Fighting Inflammatory Bowel Disease Together, the Irish Society for Colitis and Crohn's Disease	http://www.iscc.ie/page.php?id=18&title=What%20is%20IBD	37.7 ± 0.6	0.40	11.6 ± 1.4	10.7 ± 0.6
45	Crohn's Disease Diagnosis, New health guide	http://www.newhealthguide.org/Crohn%27s-Disease-Diagnosis.html	18.3 ± 0.6	0.65	13.5 ± 0.7	13.7 ± 1.1
46	Crohn's Disease, HealthDay.	http://consumer.healthday.com/encyclopedia/digestive-health-14/digestion-health-news-200/crohn-s-disease-644392.html	61.0 ± 1.0	0.86*	10.9 ± 1.4	12.0 ± 0.0
47	Ulcerative Colitis, Wikipedia	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulcerative_colitis	54.0 ± 0.0	0.63	15.2 ± 2.1	14.0 ± 2.6
48	Living with UC, Do You Know Your Treatment Options?	http://www.livingwithuc.ca/	44.3 ± 1.1	0.68	12.2 ± 1.6	11.3 ± 2.3
49	What Is Ulcerative Colitis? Everyday Health	http://www.everydayhealth.com/conditions/ulcerative-colitis	40.0 ± 0.0	0.54*	14.1 ± 0.7	13.0 ± 1.0
50	What Is Ulcerative Colitis? News Medical	http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Ulcerative-Colitis.aspx	46.0 ± 1.0	0.59	11.9 ± 0.2	13.0 ± 1.0
51	Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, Better Health Channel	http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Crohn%27s_disease_and_ulcerative_colitis	34.3 ± 1.1	0.31	9.8 ± 2.4	11.3 ± 1.5
52	Ulcerative Colitis, Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology	http://gicare.com/diseases/ulcerative-colitis/	52.3 ± 0.6	0.36	10.6 ± 1.4	11.7 ± 2.1
53	Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's and Colitis Canada	http://www.crohnsandcolitis.ca/site/c.dtJRL9NUJmL4H/b.9012449/k.C223/Ulcerative_Colitis.htm	19.7 ± 0.6	0.31	9.2 ± 1.8	10.0 ± 1.0
54	Ulcerative Colitis, Healthgrades	http://www.healthgrades.com/conditions/ulcerative-colitis	52.7 ± 1.1	0.68	14.5 ± 3.5	14.0 ± 1.0
55	Information for Those with Ulcerative Colitis, Colitis UK	http://www.ulcerativecolitis.org.uk/	49.0 ± 1.7	0.45	14.5 ± 2.0	11.7 ± 1.1
56	Colitis and Chronic Ulcerative Colitis, Virginia Mason	https://www.virginiamason.org/ColitisandChronicUlcerativeColitis	40.7 ± 0.6	0.31	16.7 ± 3.9	15.0 ± 2.0
57	Ulcerative Colitis, GastroNet	http://www.gastro.net.au/diseases/ulcerativecolitis.html	26.7 ± 0.6	0.60	13.1 ± 1.1	13.3 ± 2.3
58	Ulcerative Colitis, Ulcerative Colitis Net.	http://www.ulcerativecolitis.net/	41.3 ± 0.6	0.30	11.4 ± 3.3	12.0 ± 2.0
59	Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Lab Tests Online	http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/conditions/inflammatory-bowel	38.3 ± 0.6	0.32*	13.0 ± 0.7	12.0 ± 1.0
60	Inflammatory Bowel Disease Fact Sheet, Womenshealth.gov	http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/inflammatory-bowel-disease.html	55.7 ± 1.5	0.40	8.8 ± 0.7	10.0 ± 1.0
61	Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Innerbody	http://www.innerbody.com/diseases-conditions/ibd	39.0 ± 1.0	0.25	17.2 ± 5.7	16.7 ± 1.5
62	Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Rightdiagnosis	http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/i/inflammatory_bowel_disease/intro.htm	38.0 ± 1.0	0.33	15.9 ± 4.1	15.7 ± 2.1
63	Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Lifescript.com	http://www.lifescript.com/health/centers/digestive/related_conditions/inflammatory_bowel_disease.aspx	32.0 ± 1.0	0.50	15.1 ± 2.8	12.7 ± 1.5
64	Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), MUSC Health	http://www.ddc.musc.edu/public/symptomsDiseases/diseases/smallBowel/IBD.html	22.7 ± 1.1	0.27	14.2 ± 2.2	15.7 ± 2.9
65	Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease, New York-Presbyterian Digestive Diseases	http://nyp.org/services/digestive/ibd.html	32.3 ± 0.6	0.27	13.2 ± 0.5	12.7 ± 0.6
66	Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Human Diseases and Conditions Forum.	http://www.humanillnesses.com/original/Her-Kid/Inflammatory-Bowel-Disease.html	35.3 ± 1.5	0.14	10.7 ± 0.9	13.3 ± 2.3
67	Facts About Crohn's Disease, US. Food and Drug Administration	http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm107358.htm	34.7 ± 2.1	0.36	10.6 ± 2.6	13.7 ± 2.1
68	Crohn's Disease Symptoms and warning Signs, SymptomFind	http://www.symptomfind.com/diseases-conditions/crohns-disease-symptoms-warning-signs/	26.0 ± 1.0	0.26*	10.0 ± 1.9	13.7 ± 2.3
69	Crohn's Disease-At a Glance, SixPartsWater.Org	http://www.sixpartswater.org/knowledge-centre/crohns-disease/glance	39.7 ± 0.6	0.15	18.3 ± 3.4	12.7 ± 0.6
70	Ulcerative Colitis, eMedTV	http://colitis.emedtv.com/ulcerative-colitis/ulcerative-colitis.html	55.3 ± 0.6	0.32*	12.1 ± 0.8	11.0 ± 2.0
71	Crohn's Disease, Department of Surgery, University of California.	http://colorectal.surgery.ucsf.edu/conditions--procedures/ulcerative-colitis.aspx	51.0 ± 1.0	0.73	12.4 ± 0.8	12.3 ± 2.5
72	Crohn's Disease, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases	http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/digestive-diseases/crohns-disease/Pages/facts.aspx	68.3 ± 1.2	0.95	13.6 ± 3.9	13.7 ± 5.5
73	Crohn's Disease, Patient Education Center	http://www.patienteducationcenter.org/articles/crohns-disease/	38.0 ± 1.0	0.30	8.9 ± 0.8	12.3 ± 1.5
74	Crohn's Disease Information, alot health	http://health.alot.com/conditions/crohns-disease-information--163	32.3 ± 0.6	0.22	10.4 ± 1.5	12.0 ± 2.6
75	Crohn's Disease, Diagnose-me.Com	http://www.diagnose-me.com/symptoms-of/crohns-disease.html	32.0 ± 1.0	0.28	12.5 ± 1.6	14.3 ± 1.1
76	Crohns Disease Information: Is Colon Cleansing the Answer, Colon Cleanse Information	http://www.colon-cleanse-information.com/crohns-disease-information.html	35.7 ± 2.5	0.36	13.2 ± 0.5	14.7 ± 1.5
77	Crohn's Disease or Regional Enteritis, MD India.	http://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/Crohns-Disease.htm	46.3 ± 1.1	0.54	11.8 ± 1.3	14.0 ± 2.6
78	Crohn's Disease Information, Digestive Disorders	http://www.articleinsider.com/health-and-fitness/digestive-disorders/crohns-disease-information	33.3 ± 0.6	0.60	10.2 ± 0.6	12.3 ± 0.6
79	Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Patient Center, American College of Gastroenterology	http://patients.gi.org/topics/inflammatory-bowel-disease/	58.3 ± 1.2	0.80	12.7 ± 1.3	13.0 ± 1.0
80	Crohn's Disease:Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment, Disabled World.Com	http://www.disabled-world.com/health/digestive/crohns-disease/	26.3 ± 2.3	0.19	8.6 ± 0.6	12.00 ± 1.73
81	Crohn's Disease, Nutritionist Resource	http://www.nutritionist-resource.org.uk/articles/crohns-disease.html	39.3 ± 0.6	0.57	10.2 ± 2.6	11.3 ± 1.1
82	Crohn's Disease: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment, verywell.com	http://seniorhealth.about.com/cs/digestivetract/a/crohns_2.htm	44.3 ± 1.5	0.37	12.6 ± 0.7	11.0 ± 1.0
83	Ulcerative Colitis, Halyard Surgical.	http://www.ulcerative-colitis.org/	51.7 ± 1.5	0.25	12.1 ± 0.6	12.7 ± 2.5
84	Ulcerative Colitis Overview, Health Communities.com	http://www.healthcommunities.com/colitis/ulcerative-colitis-overview.shtml	52.7 ± 1.5	0.23*	12.6 ± 1.2	12.7 ± 1.1

^*Websites that received HONCode certificates. IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease; NHS: National Health Service; UNC: University of North Carolina.