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Analysis of types of and language used in online information available to patients with periodontitis

British Dental Journal volume 234, pages 253–258 (2023)Cite this article

Abstract

Introduction This research investigates framing in online patient information for those newly diagnosed with periodontitis.

Methods This study is a cross-sectional analysis of websites using corpus linguistic techniques. A Google search was conducted with the term 'gum disease.' Ten pages of search results were reviewed and information available was separated into types of resource: retail, healthcare, and dental practice websites. The dataset was analysed in terms of word frequency, collocation and keyness as compared to the British National Corpus Written Sampler. Differences between sources were assessed.

Results Across combined data sources, there was a tendency for the most advanced symptoms of periodontitis to be given prominence. There was also a negative skew towards avoidance of negative outcomes of treatment rather than achieving positive ones. When comparing types of resource, retail websites tended to be more positive, with a focus on improving 'milder' stages of disease.

Conclusions Negative framing could potentially induce engagement with treatment and self-care by the process of 'fear-appeal'; however, there is a risk that negativity demotivates an already anxious patient. Further research is required to evaluate patient perceptions of the information and to investigate effects this could have on behaviour change.

Key points

  • Investigates online resources available to periodontal patients and the language used.

  • Highlights that resources tend to focus on symptoms of more advanced disease, while treatment is discussed in terms of avoiding negative outcomes rather than achieving positive outcomes.

  • This framing of information may have implications for patient attendance and motivation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Central Lancashire, Lancashire, UK

    Joanne Beaumont & Neil Cook

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  1. Joanne Beaumont
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Joanne Beaumont: conceptualisation of research, data collection, analysis and writing of the manuscript. Neil Cook: supervision of research and writing the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Neil Cook.

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval was not required as there was no formal patient involvement and no confidential information was accessed.

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Beaumont, J., Cook, N. Analysis of types of and language used in online information available to patients with periodontitis. Br Dent J 234, 253–258 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-023-5525-2

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