Basal Cell Carcinoma, Melanoma, Skin Tumors, Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Conditions
Keywords
Skin Cancer, Secondary Prevention, Population Screening
Brief summary
The overall aim of this population-based screening study is to assess whether the skin cancer screening training of family physicians and dermatologists leads to improved screening outcomes. The training course aims to increase the accuracy of detecting early stages of skin cancer. Screening outcomes of an intervention region (Calgary, Canada) in which physicians receive training will be compared with screening outcomes of a control region (Edmonton, Canada) where no physician training is administered. The investigators will determine whether: * clinical screening outcomes are more favorable in the group of trained physicians compared to non trained physicians * there is an increase of knowledge about skin cancer screening among trained physicians, compared to non trained physicians * skin cancer screenings are associated with psycho-social harms * population-based screening has an effect on the overall incidence and stage-specific-incidence of skin cancer in Alberta The investigators are aiming to recruit 100 physicians per region (total of 200 physicians) who will screen 40,000 to 80,000 individuals over a period of 20 months.
Interventions
OTHERSkin Cancer Screening Training
Topics of the 5.5-hour in-class course include: the screening test, types of skin cancer (signs and symptoms), case history taking, epidemiology of skin cancer, etiology, risk factors and risk groups, communicative aspects of primary and secondary preventive measures, and benefits and harms of cancer screenings.
Sponsors
University of Calgary
University of Alberta
Association of Dermatological Prevention, Germany
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SCREENING
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
20 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. Screenees * Male and female residents of Alberta mainly living and receiving care in Edmonton or in Calgary * Age 20+ * English-speaking * Individuals who consent to participate 2. Physicians * Registered dermatologists and family physicians administering care either in Edmonton or in Calgary * English-speaking * Physicians who consent to participate
Exclusion criteria
Physicians who have undergone special training in skin cancer screening within the last 2 years
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in the diagnostic accuracy including knowledge on skin cancer screening | month 1 pre-training (intervention and control region), month 1 post-training (intervention region only), and month 12 (both regions) | Educational outcomes of physicians will be measured pre- and post-training using knowledge tests in the intervention and control region |
| Number needed to screen (NNS) to identify 1 skin tumor and number needed to excise (NNE) to identify 1 skin tumor | 20 months | Case report forms will be analyzed to determine clinical screening outcomes such as the NNS, NNE and tumor thickness. |
| Patient-rated well-being | 20 months | A patient questionnaire will be used to assess psycho-social harms of skin cancer screenings. |
| Trends of overall skin cancer incidence and stage-specific-incidence | Up to 6 years (2012-2018) | — |
Countries
Canada
Outcome results
None listed