RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Effects on Skills and Practice from a Web-Based Skin Cancer Course for Primary Care Providers
JF The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Medicine
JO J Am Board Fam Med
FD American Board of Family Medicine
SP 648
OP 657
DO 10.3122/jabfm.2013.06.130108
VO 26
IS 6
A1 Melody J. Eide
A1 Maryam M. Asgari
A1 Suzanne W. Fletcher
A1 Alan C. Geller
A1 Allan C. Halpern
A1 Waqas R. Shaikh
A1 Lingling Li
A1 Gwen L. Alexander
A1 Andrea Altschuler
A1 Stephen W. Dusza
A1 Ashfaq A. Marghoob
A1 Elizabeth A. Quigley
A1 Martin A. Weinstock
A1 for the INFORMED (INternet course FOR Melanoma Early Detection) Group
YR 2013
UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/26/6/648.abstract
AB Background: Melanoma incidence and mortality is a growing concern. Better recognition and management of skin cancer by primary care providers (PCPs) could help, but studies suggest they would benefit from additional education. Effective educational programs are needed. Methods: We developed and conducted a voluntary before-and-after evaluation of a 1- to 2-hour interactive, web-based course in skin cancer detection for practicing, board-certified PCPs (http://www.skinsight.com/info/for_professionals/dermatology-education-resources). Voluntary participants' ability to diagnose and manage skin cancer was assessed using pretests, immediate tests, and 6-month posttests. The effect on actual practice patterns was assessed using participants' patient panels: referrals or visits to dermatology and skin biopsies during the 6 months after the course were compared with those during the same period before the course. Results: The mean age of the 54 participants was 50.5 years (standard deviation, 11.1); 54% were women and 52% were Asian. The mean score for appropriate diagnosis and management increased from 36.1% to 46.7% (odds ratio, 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.4–1.9), with greatest improvement in benign lesions, from 32.1% to 46.3% (odds ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.6–2.4). Dermatology referrals for suspicious lesions or new visits by participants' patients decreased at both sites after the course (from 630 to 607 and from 726 to 266, respectively). Conclusions: This course improved skills in practicing PCPs. Improvement was greatest in the diagnosis and appropriate management of benign lesions and dermatology utilization decreased.