Work

Online information for patients on cancer diets – a comparison of German- and English-language websites

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The internet has become an important source of information for cancer patients. Numerous websites provide nutritional advice that promises benefits for the outcome of cancer therapy. The aim of our study was to evaluate and compare the online information about cancer diets on German- and English-language websites. METHODS: A patient's online search was simulated using the search engines Google and Bing. Websites were evaluated by means of content and formal criteria according to a standardized instrument. RESULTS: The analysis of 31 websites revealed heterogeneous quality regarding content and formality, distributed evenly among the German- and English-language websites. The quality of content and formality does not correlate with the website's order of appearance in a browser-based search. CONCLUSIONS: The high discrepancy in quality of content and formality represents a risk for cancer patients, who are searching for information online. Content of poor quality and formality increases the risk of mal-information and consecutive false decisions on diet. It results in the decline of therapy response, an increased probability of therapeutic toxicity and a poorer prognosis in general. The visibility of high-quality websites needs to be improved.

Source: BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

DOI: 10.1186/s12911-026-03529-7

Authors: Juliane Hauff, Lena Josfeld, Jutta Hübner

Institution: Jena University Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Health Literacy and Information Accessibility

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,990