Table 2.
Summary of statistics of the DISCERN scores and readability
| Website characteristic | Descriptive characteristics | |
|---|---|---|
| Variable | DISCERN score (Maximum Score of 80) | Readability score (grade level)* |
| Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | |
| Potential for commercial gain | ||
| Yes, n = 11 | 62.0 (8.0) | 11.97 (2.5) |
| No, n = 150 | 55.4 (13.8) | 10.85 (4.0) |
| Health related website seals of approval | ||
| Yes, n = 58 | 59.5 (10.9) | 10.3 (3.2) |
| No, n = 103 | 53.8 (14.5) | 11.3 (4.2) |
| Language | ||
| Only English, n = 122 | 56.1 (13.4) | 10.8 (3.6) |
| English and another language(s), n = 39 | 54.9 (14.4) | 11.2 (4.7) |
| Multi-media | ||
| Yes, n = 65 | 55.8 (13.9) | 10.40 (3.2) |
| No, n = 96 | 55.9 (13.4) | 11.28 (4.2) |
SD = standard deviation
*Based on the educational system of Ontario
Elementary School: grades 1 to 8
Secondary (High) School: grades 9 to 12
Collegiate (Post Secondary Education): above grade 12