How is cervical cancer screening information communicated in UK websites? Cross-sectional analysis of content and quantitative presentation formats.
OBJECTIVES
To investigate whether UK websites about cervical cancer screening targeted to the public include (1) information about benefits and risks of screening, possible screening results and cervical cancer statistics, (2) quantitative presentation formats recommended in the risk communication literature and (3) appeals for participation and/or informed decision-making.


DESIGN
Cross-sectional analysis of websites using a comprehensive checklist of information items on screening benefits, risks, possible results and cervical cancer statistics.


OUTCOME MEASURES
We recorded the number of websites that contained each of the information items, and the presentation format used for probabilistic information (no quantification provided, verbal quantifiers only, different types of numerical formats and/or graphs). We also recorded the number of websites containing appeals for participation and/or informed decision-making.


SETTING
Websites were identified through the most common Google search terms used in the UK to find information on cervical screening, according to GoogleTrends and a commercial internet-monitoring programme. Two additional websites were identified by the authors as relevant.


RESULTS
After applying exclusion criteria, 14 websites were evaluated, including websites of public and private health service providers, charities, a medical society and a pharmacy. The websites mentioned different benefits, risks of screening and possible results. However, specific content varied between websites. Probabilistic information was often presented using non-recommended formats, including relative risk reductions to express screening benefits, and verbal quantifiers without numbers to express risks. Appeals for participation were present in most websites, with almost half also mentioning informed decision-making.


CONCLUSIONS
UK websites about cervical cancer screening were generally balanced. However, benefits and risks were presented using different formats, potentially hindering comparisons. Additionally, recommendations from the literature to facilitate understanding of quantitative information and facilitate informed decisions were often not followed. Designing websites that adhere to existing recommendations may support informed screening uptake.
['Okan|Yasmina|Y|0000-0001-7963-1363', 'Smith|Samuel G|SG|', 'Bruine de Bruin|Wändi|W|0000-0002-1601-789X']
D003142:Communication D054626:Consumer Health Information D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D003657:Decision Making D055088:Early Detection of Cancer D055317:Evidence-Based Practice D005260:Female D006801:Humans D020407:Internet D012306:Risk D006113:United Kingdom D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
cervical cancer screening risk communication informed decision-making risk perception web analysis