Table 2.
Content evaluation of Internet-based patient education materials on COVID-19 (n = 141)
| Content | Proportion of websites (95% CI*) |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Definition of COVID-19 | 86% (81%-92%) |
| Timeframe of illness | 55% (47%-64%) |
| Exposure self-isolate 14 days | 37% (29%-45%) |
| Signs and symptoms | |
| Fever | 98% (95%-100%) |
| Cough | 95% (92%-99%) |
| Shortness of breath | 94% (90%-98%) |
| Sore throat | 62% (53%-70%) |
| Myalgias | 58% (49%-66%) |
| Anosmia (loss of smell) | 54% (46%-63%) |
| Ageusia (loss of taste) | 53% (44%-61%) |
| Headache | 46% (37%-54%) |
| Chills | 44% (35%-53%) |
| Diarrhea | 35% (27%-44%) |
| Fatigue | 30% (22%-37%) |
| Nausea/vomiting | 29% (21%-37%) |
| Rhinorrhea | 29% (21%-36%) |
| Nasal congestion | 25% (17%-32%) |
| Testing | |
| Viral test | 79% (72%-86%) |
| Where can a test be obtained | 58% (49%-66%) |
| How to schedule a test | 55% (46%-63%) |
| Antibody test | 41% (32%-49%) |
| What does a positive test mean | 26% (19%-34%) |
| What does a negative test mean | 21% (14%-28%) |
| Disease spread | |
| Close contact (<6 feet) | 71% (64%-79%) |
| Respiratory spread | 68% (60%-76%) |
| Asymptomatic spread | 16% (10%-22%) |
| How to protect yourself | |
| Hand hygiene | 95% (91%-99%) |
| Maintain social distancing | 89% (83%-94%) |
| Disinfect high tough surfaces | 79% (72%-86%) |
| Avoid touching face | 77% (70%-84%) |
| Face coverings | 75% (68%-83%) |
| How to wash hands | 68% (60%-76%) |
| Define social distancing | 66% (58%-74%) |
| Description on proper use of masks | 38% (29%-46%) |
| If you are sick | |
| Contact your health care provider | 97% (94%-100%) |
| Stay home except to get medical care | 72% (64%-80%) |
| Track your symptoms | 55% (47%-64%) |
| Separate yourself from other people | 50% (42%-59%) |
| Define quarantine | 29% (21%-37%) |
| Define isolation | 20% (13%-26%) |
| Emergency warning signs to seek care immediately | 62% (53%-70%) |
| Emergency: trouble breathing | 43% (34%-51%) |
| Emergency: persistent chest pain | 30% (22%-38%) |
| Emergency: inability to stay awake | 28% (20%-36%) |
| Emergency: bluish lips or face | 24% (17%-31%) |
| Criteria for return after illness | |
| Three days without fever | 15% (9%-21%) |
| Ten days since symptoms first appeared and improving | 11% (6%-17%) |
| Ten days since positive test if asymptomatic | 8% (3%-12%) |
| At-risk populations | |
| Elderly (>65 years old) | 63% (55%-71%) |
| Serious heart conditions | 52% (43%-60%) |
| Chronic lung disease | 47% (38%-55%) |
| Diabetes | 46% (37%-54%) |
| Immunocompromised | 35% (26%-43%) |
| Cancer patients | 29% (21%-37%) |
| Chronic immune weakening medications | 23% (15%-30%) |
| Immune deficiencies | 22% (15%-29%) |
| Pregnancy | 16% (9%-22%) |
| Transplant patients | 16% (10%-22%) |
| Obesity | 15% (9%-21%) |
| Chronic kidney disease | 15% (9%-21%) |
| Asthma | 14% (8%-19%) |
| Long term care facility patients | 11% (5%-16%) |
| Poorly controlled HIV†/AIDs‡ | 9% (4%-14%) |
| Liver disease | 8% (4%-13%) |
| Dialysis | 8% (3%-12%) |
| Additional resources | |
| CDC§ | 94% (91%-99%) |
| WHO⁎⁎ | 37% (29%-45%) |
| Other | 84% (78%-90%) |
⁎
CI = confidence interval.
†
HIV = human immunodeficiency virus.
‡
AIDS = acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
§
CDC = Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
⁎⁎
WHO = World Health Organization.