A Google Trends Assisted Analysis of the Readability, Accountability, and Accessibility of Online Patient Education Materials for the Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration after FDA Approval of Pegcetacoplan (SYFOVRE)

Abstract

Purpose : Patients are increasingly turning to the internet for health information. It is imperative that online information regarding age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is accurate and understandable. The purpose of our study is twofold. First, we evaluate the readability, accountability, and accessibility of patient education materials after executing a Google search using search terms related to AMD treatment. Second, we use the Google Trends tool to quantify trends in public interest in SYFOVRE and geographic atrophy in the months following FDA approval to determine if current SYFOVRE patient education materials address the needs of inquiring patients.

Methods : We executed an internet search using Google for 10 search terms related to AMD treatment. We analyzed the first ten websites containing patient education materials. Websites were classified by information source. Readability was measured using five validated readability indexes. Accountability was assessed using four JAMA benchmarks. The Google Trends tool was used to evaluate temporal trends in public interest in “SYFOVRE” and “geographic atrophy” after FDA approval.

Results : Of 100 websites analyzed, 22% were written below 6^th-grade reading level as recommended, with an average grade level of 9.76 ± 3.35. Websites averaged 1.40 ± 1.39 JAMA accountability metrics. The majority of articles (67%) were from private practice/independent organizations (Table 1). Google Trends showed a significant increase in public interest in “SYFOVRE” and “geographic atrophy” following FDA approval (p < 0.001) (Figure 1).

Conclusions : Patient education materials related to AMD treatment are often written at inappropriate reading levels and lack established accountability and accessibility metrics. Articles from national organizations ranked highest on accessibility metrics but are less visible after Google search, suggesting the need for visibility-enhancing measures. Patient education materials related to “SYFOVRE” had the highest average reading level and low accountability, suggesting the need to modify resources to best address the needs of an increasingly curious public.

This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.

 

Readability and accountability of patient education materials for AMD.

 

Public interest in “SYFOVRE” and “Geographic Atrophy” by Google Trends.