Abstract
Background
In-office skin exams are recommended at least annually for patients who are diagnosed with a basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma, but it is unknown what proportion of these patients are receiving skin exams. There are a multitude of reasons why patients have difficulty getting skin exams.
Aim
To assess the proportion of patients at our institution who received a skin exam in the 12 months following removal of a basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma by Mohs micrographic surgery and to assess the barriers to care that patients faced in receiving a skin exam.
Methods
We conducted an IRB-approved online patient survey.
Results
161 survey respondents said they were able to get a skin exam and 14 said they were not. Patients who did not receive a skin exam agreed significantly more often with the following barriers to care: patient’s own schedule, dermatologists’ availability, and not knowing a skin exam was recommended (p < 0.005). Patients who did not receive a skin exam said that a reminder text/email/phone call would make them more likely to receive a skin exam.
Conclusions
Patients identify their own schedule, the provider’s schedule, and not knowing that a skin exam is recommended as factors making it more difficult for them to receive a skin exam. It is likely that further emphasis about the importance of skin exams, written instructions, or text/email/phone call reminders would make patients who have been previously diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma more likely to receive skin exams.
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Availability of data and material
This data has not previously been presented or published.
Abbreviations
- BCC:
-
Basal cell carcinoma
- cSCC:
-
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
References
Bichakjian C, Armstrong A, Baum C, Bordeaux JS et al (2018) Guidelines of care for the management of basal cell carcinoma. J Am Acad Dermatol 78(3):540–559. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2017.10.006
Alam M, Armstrong A, Baum C, Bordeaux JS et al (2018) Guidelines of care for the management of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. J Am Acad Dermatol 78(3):560–578. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2017.10.007
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Funding
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center Department of Dermatology Educational Fund.
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Conflict of interest
The author Mustafa S Ascha reports employment at Flatiron Health, Inc., which is an independent subsidiary of the Roche Group, and reports equity ownership in Roche. All other authors have no conflict of interest to declare.
Ethics approval
This study received IRB approval from University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. Institutional Review Board. Approval Number 05-17-22C. Approval Date 9/18/2017. This study was also approved by the Case Western Reserve University Protocol Review and Monitoring Committee on 3/9/2017.
Informed consent
Informed consent was obtained prior to survey participation.
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Archibald, L.K., Ascha, M.S. & Bordeaux, J.S. Why it’s hard to see a dermatologist for a skin exam: the patient perspective. Arch Dermatol Res 313, 505–507 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-020-02080-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-020-02080-3