Table 2.

DISCERN quality assessments

Resource name	Author	Overall DISCERN score	Higher scoring points	Lower scoring points
Skin Cancer: Squamous Cell Carcinoma	American Academy of Dermatology	Moderate	• Clear references • Relevant information • Discussion of different treatment types	• Lacking discussion about shared decision-making • No discussion about no treatment • Limited reference to areas of uncertainty
Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancer	American Cancer Society	High	• Support for shared decision-making • Information is well-balanced • Relevant information • Clear references	• Little discussion about the impact of treatment on QoL
Skin Cancer	Cancer.Net	High	• Clear layout and signposting • References shared decision-making • Includes information on palliative care • Good description of treatments	• No references • No discussion about no treatment
Squamous Cell Carcinoma	The Christie	Low	• Clear layout of sections • Provides an overview of treatment	• No specifics about treatment including benefits and risks • No discussion about shared decision-making • Not aimed at an advanced audience • No references given
Skin Cancer	Cancer Research UK	Moderate	• Provides description of each treatment • Offers side effects of each treatment • Provides references	• No discussion of newer treatments • No discussion about uncertainty or impact on QoL • Does not talk about shared decision-making
Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma	DermNet NZ	High	• Clear references and signposts • Description of how treatments work • Discussion of risks and some benefits to treatments • Well-balanced and unbalanced	• No discussion about uncertainty or impact on QoL
Navigating Life with Advanced CSCC	Healthline	Moderate	• Well balanced information • Focus on multiple treatments • Some reference to QoL	• Limited reference to uncertainty • Could elaborate on treatment side effects and benefits
Skin Cancer	Macmillan	Moderate	• Additional signposts provided • Some discussion about body image • Treatments are well balanced	• Does not discuss newer treatments • Does not explain risks with treatment • No discussion about uncertainty
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Skin	Mayo Clinic	Moderate	• Signposts and references provided • Clearly laid out • Balanced treatment discussions	• Does not discuss risks or no treatment • Does not reference newer treatments
Squamous Cell Carcinoma	Memorial Sloan Kettering	Low	• Description of surgery and radiotherapy	• No discussion of drug therapy • No references • No discussion about risk • No discussion about QoL
Squamous Cell Carcinoma	Moffitt Cancer Center	Low	• Surgical treatments well laid out	• No discussion of drug therapy • No references • No discussion about risk • No discussion about QoL
Skin Cancer Treatment—Patient Version	National Institutes of Health	Moderate	• Good descriptions of each treatment • Additional signposts • Patient encouraged to ask questions and seek a second opinion	• Side effects are not related to specific treatments • No discussion about QoL • No discussion about shared decision-making
Types of Skin Cancer	NYU Langone	Moderate	• Description of surgery and radiotherapy • Some discussion of treatment benefits	• No immunotherapy information • No discussion about QoL • No discussion about shared decision-making
Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treatment	Skin Cancer Foundation	Low	• Various treatment options are discussed	• Treatment benefits and risks are not discussed with detail • Areas of uncertainty are not discussed • References are not provided • No discussion about QoL
Squamous Cell Skin Cancer	Wikipedia	Moderate	• Relevant content • Well balanced • Treatment details included	• No discussion about QoL • No discussion about uncertainty • No discussion about shared decision-making