Research study to learn more about the potential benefits and challenges of a new supportive care program for people affected by melanoma.

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The primary aim of our study is to test whether a psycho-educational intervention, comprising a tailored, psycho-educational booklet and individual, telephone-based psychological support, will reduce fear of melanoma recurrence, defined in this study as fear of a previous melanoma coming back somewhere else in the body as well as fear of developing a new melanoma on the skin. The secondary aims of our study are to assess the cost-effectiveness of the psycho-educational intervention, and to improve patient understanding of melanoma risk, doctor-patient communication about melanoma, melanoma-related health behaviours (e.g. skin self-examination) and unmet supportive care needs. Who is it for? To participate in the study, patients will be aged over 18 years, will have a previous melanoma diagnosed at stages 0 I or II, will be attending one of the melanoma high risk clinics in New South Wales, and have sufficient English language skills to read the booklet and complete the study questionnaires. Trial details Participants in this trial will be randomly (by chance) allocated to one of two groups – the ‘intervention’ group or the ‘standard care’ group. Four weeks before their full dermatological appointment at the high risk clinic (HRC), participants in the intervention group will receive two booklets: our newly developed psycho-educational booklet (called ‘Melanoma: Questions and answers’), and the freely-available Cancer Council booklet (called ‘Understanding Melanoma’). Participants in the intervention group (Group 1) will then have three individual telephone-based psychological support sessions (each up to 90 minutes duration) with a clinical psychologist. The first telephone session will occur about one week after participants receive the booklets (before their HRC appointment). The second telephone session will occur about one week after participants’ HRC appointment, and the third telephone session will occur about three weeks after participants’’ full HRC appointment. These telephone sessions aim to give participants the opportunity to raise questions or concerns they have after reading the melanoma booklet and after attending their clinical consultation. Their key goals are to assist participants: a) to have a point of contact; b) to use the newly developed melanoma psycho-educational booklet; c) to prioritise their goals; d) to use other available avenues of support Participants in the ‘standard care’ group will receive the Cancer Council ‘Understanding melanoma’ booklet and a blank notepad, four weeks before attending their clinic appointment. All participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire at baseline (6 weeks before their full dermatological consultation at the HRC), 2 weeks after their full dermatological consultation at the HRC, and again at 6 and 12 months, to evaluate the effect of the intervention on fear of melanoma recurrence, anxiety, stress, depression, quality of life, satisfaction with clinical care, melanoma risk knowledge, healthy behavioural adjustment to melanoma risk and unmet supportive care needs.