Table 1 The questions of the DISCERN instrument with the mean (standard deviation) score of each question
From: Quality assessment of available Internet information on early orthodontic treatment
Each question is rated accordingly: | Orthodontists | Multidisciplinary dental clinics | Professional organizations | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |||||
No | Partially | Yes | Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | |||
Section 1 (Questions 1–8): The reliability of the publication | |||||||||
1. Are the aims clear? | 2.28 (0.48) | 2.62 (0.65) | 3.70 (1.06) | 4.00 (0.82) | |||||
2. Does it achieve its aims? | 2.19 (0.49) | 2.38 (0.51) | 3.70 (1.06) | 4.00 (0.82) | |||||
3. Is it relevant? | 2.13 (0.38) | 2.46 (0.66) | 3.70 (1.06) | 4.00 (0.82) | |||||
4. Is it clear what sources of information were used to compile the publication (other than author/ producer)? | 2.10 (0.79) | 1.69 (0.48) | 2.90 (1.45) | 4.00 (2.00) | |||||
5. Is it clear when the information used or reported in the publication was produced? | 1.00 (0.00) | 1.00 (0.00) | 2.70 (1.64) | 5.00 (0.00) | |||||
6. Is it balanced or unbiased? | 3.78 (0.59) | 3.69 (0.63) | 3.50 (1.27) | 3.50 (1.91) | |||||
7. Does it provide details of additional sources of support and information? | 1.04 (0.36) | 1.00 (0.00) | 3.00 (1.63) | 3.75 (1.89) | |||||
8. Does it refer to areas of uncertainty? | 1.29 (0.57) | 1.46 (0.66) | 2.90 (1.45) | 3.25 (0.96) | |||||
Section 2 (Questions 9–15): The quality of the information on treatment choices | |||||||||
9. Does it describe how each treatment works? | 1.31 (0.53) | 1.54 (0.66) | 3.30 (1.16) | 2.75 (1.50) | |||||
10. Does it describe the benefits of each treatment? | 1.94 (0.38) | 1.92 (0.87) | 3.50 (0.85) | 2.00 (1.15) | |||||
11. Does it describe the risks of each treatment? | 1.03 (0.17) | 1.15 (0.53) | 2.70 (1.16) | 2.00 (1.15) | |||||
12. Does it describe what would happen if no treatment is used? | 2.62 (0.60) | 2.23 (0.73) | 1.30 (0.67) | 2.50 (1.29) | |||||
13. Does it describe how treatment choices affect the overall quality of life? | 1.07 (0.26) | 1.31 (0.48) | 3.50 (0.71) | 2.50 (1.73) | |||||
14. Is it clear that there may be more than one possible choice of treatment? | 1.14 (0.55) | 1.62 (0.87) | 3.60 (1.35) | 3.00 (1.41) | |||||
15. Does it provide support for shared decision-making? | 2.10 (0.42) | 2.31 (0.63) | 3.10 (1.29) | 3.00 (0.82) | |||||
Section 3 (Question 16): Overall quality rating of the publication | |||||||||
16. This question is rated accordingly: | |||||||||
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 2.16 (0.41) | 2.31 (0.48) | 3.20 (0.92) | 3.50 (0.58) | |
Low Serious or extensive shortcomings | Moderate Potentially important but no serious shortcomings | High Minimal shortcomings | |||||||