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Early Detection of Skin Cancer by Family Physicians: A Pilot Project

  • Published:
Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery: Incorporating Medical and Surgical Dermatology

Abstract

Background: Malignant melanoma is rising quickly in incidence and mortality rates. Family physicians (FPs) have been reported to lack confidence in diagnosing skin cancers. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether an educational intervention can improve FPs’ abilities to diagnose skin cancers. Methods: The design was a prospective, randomized trial which included a skin cancer questionnaire, a video intervention, and a skin biopsy review. Results: Pre-intervention, FPs answered 57% of the questions correctly on the skin cancer questionnaire. Post-intervention, the video intervention group scored higher than did the control group. The video intervention group removed 10% fewer benign lesions and almost 3 times more malignant lesions compared with their pre-intervention biopsy rate. No findings were statistically significant. Conclusion: An educational intervention may improve FPs’ knowledge and diagnosis of skin cancer. Our results may guide future studies with larger sample sizes in developing a skin cancer continuing medical education (CME) course for FPs.

Antécédents: L’incidence des mélanomes et le taux de mortalité qui y est associé augmentent rapidement, ce qui laisse suggérer que les médecins de famille n’ont pas la confiance nécessaire pour diagnostiquer le cancer de la peau. Objectif: Déterminer si une campagne d’éducation peut améliorer la capacité des médecins de famille à diagnostiquer les cancers de la peau. Méthodes: Une étude prospective randomisée a été menée, comprenant un questionnaire sur le cancer de la peau, une séance éducative sur vidéo et un aperçu d’une biopsie de la peau. Résultats: Avant la séance, les médecins de famille ont obtenu de bonnes réponses à 57% des questions figurant sur le questionnaire du cancer de la peau. Le groupe qui a assisté à la séance vidéo a eu un meilleur résultat que le groupe précédent. Le groupe a enlevé 10% de moins de tumeurs bénignes et 3 fois plus de tumeurs malignes après l’aperçu de la biopsie. Toutefois, ces résultats ne représentent pas des statistiques significatives. Conclusion: Des mesures éducatives pourront améliorer les connaissances des médecins de famille et leurs capacités de diagnostiquer les mélanomes. Nos résultats pourront orienter de futures études, avec un plus large nombre de participants, dans la mise au point d’une stratégie d’éducation médicale continue (EMC) sur le cancer de la peau, destinée aux médecins de famille.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Gillian C. de Gannes, Janet L. Ip, Magdalena Martinka, Richard I. Crawford & Jason K. Rivers

  2. Vancouver Hospital and Health Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Magdalena Martinka

  3. St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Richard I. Crawford

  4. The Skin Care Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Jason K. Rivers

Authors
  1. Gillian C. de Gannes
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  2. Janet L. Ip
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  3. Magdalena Martinka
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  4. Richard I. Crawford
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  5. Jason K. Rivers
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Correspondence to Jason K. Rivers.

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de Gannes, G.C., Ip, J.L., Martinka, M. et al. Early Detection of Skin Cancer by Family Physicians: A Pilot Project . JCMS 8, 103–109 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10227-002-0142-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10227-002-0142-1

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