Words Matter: An Analysis of the Content and Readability of COVID-19 Information on Clinic Websites

Objective: To examine content and readability of COVID-19 information on outpatient clinic websites in South Carolina. Participants: Thirty-three websites. Methods: Using a multi-step search strategy, we located three sections from each website. Descriptive statistics were calculated for section characteristics (focus, source, target population/race, presence graphics, mobilizing information). Flesch Reading Ease (FRE), Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), Simple Measure Gobbledygook (SMOG) used to calculate reading levels. Mann Whitney U Kruskal Wallis tests performed levels by type (primary care vs. specialty) characteristics. Results: Twenty-six clinics offered information; 70 across all 26 analyzed. Sections focused policies (48.4%), prevention (22.6%), testing (19.4%), symptoms (9.7%). 93.5% lacked population, 41.9% provided no 38.7% had none mentioned racial/ethnic groups. M FRE = 54.3, FKGL 9.9, SMOG 9.5. Conclusion: mainly policy was written at ninth-grade skill level. Findings suggest there is opportunity update their online convey more plain language sourced information, especially high-risk