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A Pilot Educational Intervention to Support Primary Care Provider Performance of Skin Cancer Examinations

Journal of Cancer Education volume 38, pages 364–369 (2023)Cite this article

Abstract

Educational interventions to support Primary Care Provider (PCP) performance of skin cancer examinations typically train PCPs to “triage and refer,” an approach that may result in diagnostic delays in regions without appropriate access to dermatology care. To address the needs of PCPs and patients in regions without appropriate access to dermatology care, we developed a multi-faceted pilot intervention, including a curriculum and telementoring, designed to support PCP performance of skin cancer detection examinations. Our intervention offers two levels of proficiency: “triage and refer” and “diagnose and manage.” The pilot intervention was conducted in collaboration with the Texas Tech University of Health Sciences Center El Paso, TX Family and Community Medicine Department (TTUHSC-El Paso). Participation in the intervention was voluntary, and 18–22 family medicine resident physicians completed the intervention tests. The participating family medicine resident physicians demonstrated statistically significant gains in knowledge and self-efficacy at the immediate post-intervention time points. Further adaption of the pilot intervention is needed to meet the needs of practicing PCPs. The pilot tests require further adaption and validation. Translating education delivery from live/synchronous to interactive virtual/asynchronous modules will support greater educational dissemination, and telementoring support is essential to address challenging cases encountered during patient care.

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Funding

This project was supported by the generous philanthropic contributions of the Lyda Hill Foundation to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Moon Shots Program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler Street, Unit 1452, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Kelly C. Nelson & Hung Q. Doan

  2. Division of Dermatology, Maine Medical Center, Portland, ME and Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    Elizabeth V. Seiverling

  3. University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA

    Nadeen Gonna

  4. Department of Dermatology, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Portland, OR, USA

    Elizabeth Berry & Elizabeth Stoos

  5. Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Chloe N. Dorsey & Lauren E. Haydu

  6. Department of Family and Community Medicine, Texas Tech University of Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, USA

    Sarah Sepulveda & Gerardo Vazquez

Authors
  1. Kelly C. Nelson
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  2. Elizabeth V. Seiverling
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  3. Nadeen Gonna
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  4. Elizabeth Berry
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  5. Elizabeth Stoos
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  6. Chloe N. Dorsey
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  7. Sarah Sepulveda
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  8. Gerardo Vazquez
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  9. Hung Q. Doan
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  10. Lauren E. Haydu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kelly C. Nelson.

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The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Institutional Review Board, protocol PA19-0536.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Cite this article

Nelson, K.C., Seiverling, E.V., Gonna, N. et al. A Pilot Educational Intervention to Support Primary Care Provider Performance of Skin Cancer Examinations. J Canc Educ 38, 364–369 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-021-02126-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-021-02126-8

Keywords

  • Graduate medical education
  • Melanoma
  • Skin cancer
  • Secondary prevention

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