E-ISSN 1658-7820
 

Review Article
Online Published: 02 Oct 2023
 


Quality and readability of online information about root canal treatment and its outcomes: an infodemiological study

Hattan Zaki, Muath Saad Alassaf, Maher Osama Shahada, Sarah Abdulmohsen Almuzaini, Faisal Marzouq Alsohaimi, Meshal Saud Alharbi, Lamis Lmrabet Mohamado, Ismail Abdouh.


Abstract
Root canal treatment, also known as endodontic treatment, is a common dental procedure that involves the removal of inflamed or infected pulp tissue, followed by cleaning, disinfecting, filling, and sealing the canals. The aim of this study is to categorize the content and assess the quality and readability of the online information regarding root canal treatment and related outcomes. An online search using three different terms regarding the root canal treatment and related outcomes was undertaken using Google, Yahoo, and Bing search engines. The first 100 websites that appeared in each search were analyzed. Data recorded included DISCERN instrument scores, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmarks, and the presence of the health on the net seal (HON). Flesh reading ease scores, flesh-kincaid grade level, the simplified measure of Gobbledygook index, and the Coleman-Liau index were calculated to assess readability. Eighty-five of the first websites remained for analysis after applying appropriate exclusion criteria. The mean overall DISCERN score was 2.91 (+1.12). Only one website (1.17%) achieved all four JAMA benchmarks. Only 12 websites (14.1%) displayed the HON seal. The reading level varied from standard to difficult among the majority of websites. Based on this study, the online information regarding root canal treatment and related outcomes has challenging readability with content of poor quality. Further efforts should be made to create and maintain high-quality, reliable, and easily readable online information sources related to root canal treatment outcomes.

Key words: Flare-up, root canal treatment, complications, online information, patient education.


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Zaki H, Alassaf MS, Shahada MO, Almuzaini SA, Alsohaimi FM, Alharbi MS, Mohamado LL, Abdouh I. Quality and readability of online information about root canal treatment and its outcomes: an infodemiological study. IJMDC. 2023; 7(12): 1751-1757. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1692709173


Web Style

Zaki H, Alassaf MS, Shahada MO, Almuzaini SA, Alsohaimi FM, Alharbi MS, Mohamado LL, Abdouh I. Quality and readability of online information about root canal treatment and its outcomes: an infodemiological study. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=166411 [Access: October 14, 2025]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1692709173


AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Zaki H, Alassaf MS, Shahada MO, Almuzaini SA, Alsohaimi FM, Alharbi MS, Mohamado LL, Abdouh I. Quality and readability of online information about root canal treatment and its outcomes: an infodemiological study. IJMDC. 2023; 7(12): 1751-1757. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1692709173



Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Zaki H, Alassaf MS, Shahada MO, Almuzaini SA, Alsohaimi FM, Alharbi MS, Mohamado LL, Abdouh I. Quality and readability of online information about root canal treatment and its outcomes: an infodemiological study. IJMDC. (2023), [cited October 14, 2025]; 7(12): 1751-1757. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1692709173



Harvard Style

Zaki, H., Alassaf, . M. S., Shahada, . M. O., Almuzaini, . S. A., Alsohaimi, . F. M., Alharbi, . M. S., Mohamado, . L. L. & Abdouh, . I. (2023) Quality and readability of online information about root canal treatment and its outcomes: an infodemiological study. IJMDC, 7 (12), 1751-1757. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1692709173



Turabian Style

Zaki, Hattan, Muath Saad Alassaf, Maher Osama Shahada, Sarah Abdulmohsen Almuzaini, Faisal Marzouq Alsohaimi, Meshal Saud Alharbi, Lamis Lmrabet Mohamado, and Ismail Abdouh. 2023. Quality and readability of online information about root canal treatment and its outcomes: an infodemiological study. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 7 (12), 1751-1757. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1692709173



Chicago Style

Zaki, Hattan, Muath Saad Alassaf, Maher Osama Shahada, Sarah Abdulmohsen Almuzaini, Faisal Marzouq Alsohaimi, Meshal Saud Alharbi, Lamis Lmrabet Mohamado, and Ismail Abdouh. "Quality and readability of online information about root canal treatment and its outcomes: an infodemiological study." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 7 (2023), 1751-1757. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1692709173



MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Zaki, Hattan, Muath Saad Alassaf, Maher Osama Shahada, Sarah Abdulmohsen Almuzaini, Faisal Marzouq Alsohaimi, Meshal Saud Alharbi, Lamis Lmrabet Mohamado, and Ismail Abdouh. "Quality and readability of online information about root canal treatment and its outcomes: an infodemiological study." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 7.12 (2023), 1751-1757. Print. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1692709173



APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Zaki, H., Alassaf, . M. S., Shahada, . M. O., Almuzaini, . S. A., Alsohaimi, . F. M., Alharbi, . M. S., Mohamado, . L. L. & Abdouh, . I. (2023) Quality and readability of online information about root canal treatment and its outcomes: an infodemiological study. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 7 (12), 1751-1757. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1692709173





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