19 An Evaluation of the Quality and Readability of Online Information Regarding Foreign Bodies of the Ear, Nose and Throat

Aim Foreign body (FB) inhalation, ingestion and insertion account for 11% of ENT emergency hospital admissions. Children are disproportionately affected, and urgent intervention may be needed to maintain open airways. High-quality, readable online information could help reduce poor outcomes from foreign bodies. The aim is to determine the quality and readability of online health information relating to FB. Method Google was used to conduct searches using 6 search phrases. For each search phrase, the first 30 results were captured for inclusion in the study. Eligibility criteria were applied to select only health information. The EQIP tool was used to assess information quality. Readability was assessed using the Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES) and the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL). Results Of the information websites included (n=73), most (63%) were from the USA. The median EQIP score was 21 (IQR18-25, max29), suggesting moderate information quality. Precautionary measures were not mentioned on 40% of websites and 30% did not identify disc batteries as a risky FB. Red flags for urgent care were identified on 95% of websites, 89% advised patients to seek medical attention and only 38.4% of websites advised patients on safe foreign body removal. Readability scores (FRES:12.4 years; FKGL:6.2) showed most websites (56%) were below the recommended 6th-grade level. Conclusions The EQIP score suggests that information quality should be improved to provide patients and parents with clear information to help identify high-risk foreign bodies such as disc batteries and magnets, while providing guidance for removal of low-risk foreign bodies.