The Melanoma Project's Rated Links Page
Description of Page
Each link on this list has been briefly described and rated on a four star scale. The ratings can help you tailor your search of the extensive information available on the web on the topic of melanoma.
Rating System
The sites were rated in four categories:
- Usability of site for both the public, as well as medical professionals
- Accuracy of the information given on the site
- Navigation of the site
- Visual and architectural aspects of the site
The sites were given one star for being an excellent site in each of the four above categories for a possible total of four stars.
Rated Links
1. The American Academy of Dermatology
http://www.aad.org/
-This site links to the American Academy of Dermatology which then splits information between a public audience, and the medical community audience. The public information is further divided, and focuses on patient education through various means. The individual pages include one with pictures of skin cancer, graphics showing how to perform a self exam, and even an interactive quiz which grades the individual's answers. The outcome is total patient education and feedback. Also included is a section which helps find a dermatologist near the user. Navigation is smooth and well directed, with excellent visual screen qualities. Few if any limitations, except that the medical information is available only with password.
Rating: ***2. Dermatology Online Atlas
http://www.derma.med.uni-erlangen.de/bilddb/diagnose/englisch/dg_m.htm-Content includes excellent color atlas of the various types of melanoma. The user is then able to click on images for full screen view. More for health worker type audience. Navigation is smooth with thumbnails for all grouped pictures. The atlas itself is limited to images. No links from atlas itself.
Rating: ***3. The Johns Hopkins Melanoma Program
http://ww2.med.jhu.edu/cancerctr/melanoma/melprog.htm-This is an excellent and comprehensive melanoma site with good patient and medical professional information. The site is easy to use, and is not hard to navigate. It is visually pleasant, and the information is great.
Rating: ****
4. An Introduction to Skin Cancer
http://www.maui.net/~southsky/introto.html-Great basic patient information in mostly text form. Begins with intro on what causes skin cancer, to different types of skin cancer, to risk factors, to diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and other skin cancers. Great for patient/lay person use. Smooth navigation with some links. Limited to mostly text with some empty links.
Rating: **5. Loyola University Dermatology
http://www.meddean.luc.edu/lumen/meded/medicine/dermatology/melton/title.htm
-This site from Loyola University in Chicago has an excellent full color atlas of skin cancer. This atlas also includes some text discussing the individual pictures. This site is more for a medical audience dealing with recognition of skin disease. The site is navigated by clicking on the image you wish to view. The pictures are excellent and the text provides an adequate explanation of what you are viewing. The limitation is that the site is mainly just an atlas with brief text.
Rating: **6. Melanoma Patients' Information Page
http://www.sonic.net/~jpat/getwell/getwell.html
-A very complete link list on melanoma, including links to numerous quality sites. These contain information for every possible audience, ranging from introductory to advanced. The site also includes interesting aspects such as a prognosis calculator, chat room, abstract database, and medical dictionary. Navigation is easy, but visual qualities are not impressive as it is all text with links.
Rating: ***7. National Cancer Institute
http://cancernet.nci.nih.gov/clinpdq/pif/Melanoma_Patient.html
-This National Cancer Institute site provides a basic rundown of melanoma, from an introduction of what melanoma is, to how it is diagnosed and treated. The site works by simply scrolling down the page, or exploring with the links. The site is for a lay audience, and is good for a quick overview. It is limited in that it has no links, but it does give a phone number for further info.
Rating: **8. National Melanoma Foundation
http://www.nationalmelanoma.org
-The purpose of the National Melanoma Foundation is to combat malignant melanoma through education and awareness, prevention, early detection, and collaboration with other groups and governmental entities. It also supports referral services to newly diagnosed patients. The site contains a number of useful links.
Rating: **9. NYC - Dermatology
http://www.allny.com/health/dermatology.html
-This page is a long list of dermatologists and links to numerous dermatology sites. The content is useful for its links to many other sites, but is cluttered, and not divided into useful categories. This site does allow you to add your own links to be listed.
Rating: **10. You Can be an Expert at Diagnosing Melanoma
http://matrix.ucdavis.edu/tumors/new/tutorial-intro.html-This site is an excellent tutorial on melanoma which was designed to be used by medical students. The site contains text and over 200 images to deliver its info. The site does a good job of using an orderly approach to recognition and diagnosis of melanoma. The navigation is less than ideal using next and last page arrows. Text and images are large, and site is somewhat slow, but the pictures are excellent.
Rating: ***
Created by David E. Olson 4/7/98
Last Updated 10/30/01 by Anna Hargreaves
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