A five-dimension evaluation of Arabic-language health websites providing information about HPV and cervical cancer in the arab world: Readability, engagement, usability, accessibility, and quality

Background Seeking online health information has become a widespread practice, with many individuals relying on freely available online resources to improve their health knowledge. Cervical cancer, which is primarily caused by persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, remains a major public health concern and has prompted many individuals, including those in the Arab world, to seek health information online. However, the quality of Arabic-language websites providing information on HPV and cervical cancer remains largely unknown. Objectives To evaluate the readability, engagement, usability, accessibility, and quality of Arabic-language websites providing information on HPV and cervical cancer. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using Google Trends to identify the most frequently searched Arabic keywords related to HPV and cervical cancer in selected Arab Gulf countries. These keywords were used to retrieve websites from three search engines (Google, Yahoo, and Bing). Readability, engagement, usability, and accessibility were assessed using automated evaluation tools, while website quality was independently assessed by two experts using the JAMA benchmark. Results Ten Arabic-language websites met the eligibility criteria and were included in the analysis. Although 80% of the evaluated websites achieved the recommended FKGL threshold, only one website met the recommended thresholds for all three readability measures (FKGL, SMOG, and FRE). User engagement was generally low, with an average bounce rate of 63.12%, 2.34 pages per visit, and an average visit duration of 1.97 minutes. Extensive usability issues were identified in 70% of the evaluated websites; accessibility compliance was limited, 90% failed to meet at least one JAMA quality criterion. Conclusion Arabic-language websites providing information on HPV and cervical cancer demonstrated important deficiencies in readability, engagement, usability, accessibility, and quality. Improving these dimensions may enhance the quality of online health information, support informed health decision-making, and strengthen HPV prevention and cervical cancer awareness among Arabic-speaking populations.