Evaluation of Content, Readability and Design of online information resources aimed to capacitate people with stroke: Scoping Review Protocol (Preprint)
BACKGROUND People with stroke and their caregivers experience numerous information needs and internet-based resources may offer cost-effective ways to improve information on this condition, its management, including the availability of resources and support. The quality of online health information is, therefore, an important consideration for both developers and consumers of these online resources. OBJECTIVE This scoping review study, therefore, aims to map and evaluate the content, readability, understandability, design, and quality characteristics of freely available online information resources, e.g. websites, that capacitate people with stroke and caregivers with information and self-help strategies (post-stroke). METHODS The scoping review will follow the approach recommended by Levac, Colquhoun and O’Brien, which includes five steps: 1) identifying the research question, 2) identifying relevant studies, 3) selecting the studies, 4) charting the data, and 5) collating, summarising and reporting the results. synthesise and analyse data thematically. RESULTS As of July 2019, the scoping review is in the data extraction stage. Data will be synthesised, and the first results are expected to be submitted for publication in October 2020. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this is the first scoping review that will comprehensively map and evaluate the typology, content, and design-related criteria, including accessibility, aesthetics, navigability, interactivity, privacy, and data protection of online information resources for Stroke. We believe our findings will have practical applications and will also hold important information for designers and end-users of these resources.