Bottom Line:
Screening for prostate cancer can lead to a reduction in the risk of dying from the disease, a landmark study has found.
Publication details:
Until recently, experts disagreed on the usefulness of the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test, the main test for prostate cancer. Results from a European-wide trial, published in 2009, has shown that screening for prostate cancer can reduce deaths from the disease by 20%.
We assessed this page using an appraisal instrument developed by Minervation specifically for this project. This approach is still in development, so you should regard the assessments as a general guide. Click here to find out more, or to let us know how you think the approach could be improved.
Reliability comments:
- The page content has been checked.
- The page was last updated on 19/07/2010.
- The page cites some relevant sources and link to other relevant pages.
- It is clear who has developed the website and what their objectives are.
- The site reports a robust editorial policy that includes critical appraisal of sources.
- Information is provided by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians.
Usability comments:
- The format is clear and appropriate for the audience.
- No login is needed to access the site.
- The pages are busy and overloaded with information.
- There are many competing navigational tools and the search engine is error-prone.
Scoring
Reliability
| Item |
Score |
| Is it clear who has developed the web site and what their objectives are? |
3 |
| It is clear who has developed the website and what their objectives are. |
| Does the site report a robust quality control procedure? |
3 |
|
|
| Is the page content checked by an expert? |
3 |
| The page content has been checked. |
| Is the page updated regularly? |
3 |
| The page was last updated on 19/07/2010. |
| Does the page cite relevant sources where appropriate? |
3 |
| The page cites some relevant sources and link to other relevant pages. |
Usability
| Item |
Score |
| Is the site accessible without a login? |
3 |
| No login is needed to access the site. |
| Does the site conform to web Accessibility standards? |
3 |
| The site scores 93% for accessibility. |
| Is the site design clear and transparent? |
2 |
| The pages are busy and overloaded with information. |
| Is the site design consistent from one page to another? |
2 |
| The site design is not consistent. |
| Can users find what they need on the site? |
1 |
| The site is sometimes difficult to navigate and the search engine is error prone. |
| Is the format of information clear and appropriate for the audience? |
3 |
| The format is clear and appropriate for the audience. |
| Weighted total (Usability + (Reliability x 2)): |
44 |
We score each question out of three where:
| 0 |
= Never or Can't tell |
| 1 |
= Sometimes or partly |
| 2 |
= Mostly |
| 3 |
= Always |
|
Getting tested for prostate cancer
