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Comparison of Two Strategies for Counseling Skin Examination and Sun Protection in First-degree Relatives of Patients With Melanoma

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Melanoma
Screening
Interventions
Behavioral: In-person counseling
Behavioral: Written advice
Behavioral: Medical skin screening
Registration Number
NCT02917473
Lead Sponsor
University Hospital, Tours
Brief Summary

First-degree relatives of patients with melanoma have a greater risk of developing melanoma. Patients are advised orally to inform their first-degree relatives that they should protect their skin from UV radiation and ask for a skin examination from a general practitioner or dermatologist. The study will evaluate the effectiveness of a written sheet in addition to the usual oral counselling to increase acceptance of skin examination by the first-degree relatives. If effective, written counselling provided to the patient for relatives should be recommended and generalized.

Detailed Description

Melanoma (MM) is a common cancer affecting 11,000 new cases per year in France and the incidence has tripled in 30 years. It now includes young people, and is responsible for 1600 deaths /year in France. Greater tumor thickness and delayed diagnosis are associated with higher mortality. Prevention and early detection on a large scale in the general population are effective but expensive. First-degree relatives have a greater risk of developing MM. A study carried out in the USA found that a biennial consultation is justified and cost-effective in first-degree relatives of MM patients. The best way to deliver the message of sun protection and screening by a dermatologist, and the reality of behavioural changes induced by counseling and the psychological determinants of adherence to medical skin examination are not fully understood.

A pilot study performed in our center suggested the value of a short written advice provided for participants to give to their relatives to promote sun protection and medical skin examination. The participants reported a significant increase in interest in medical skin examination by their relatives (p=0.006), but the investigators do not know whether the relatives really consulted for examination.

The aim of the multicenter cluster-randomized study is to demonstrate that a higher ratio of relatives will in fact consult their GP or dermatologist for skin examination in the centers randomized to the intervention arm, i.e advice leaflet and usual oral counselling, compared to the centers randomized in the control arm, i.e. usual oral counselling. Participants and their relatives in the intervention group will be asked to undergo psychological tests to identify potential barriers to skin examination and sun protection.

If effective, the investigators expect to improve the written information and to generalize its distribution at national level.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
420
Inclusion Criteria

For Patients:

  • Personal history of Stage 0 through IIB melanoma
  • At maximum of 12 weeks after surgical treatment of Stage 0 through IIA melanoma
  • Have at least one first-degree relative
  • Speaking and reading French
  • Affiliated to the French Health Insurance system
  • Signed non-opposition form at the 1 year consultation

For 1st degree relatives:

  • To be 1st degree related to a patient with melanoma
  • Speaking and reading French
  • 1st degree relatives informed by patients and agreeing to fill out the psychological questionnaires and to the use of their personal data by the investigators.
Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Intervention groupWritten adviceEducation and counseling as commonly delivered to the patients in clinical practice and written advice for their first-degree relatives. In addition to oral counseling to the patient, written advice will be provided to patients for their relatives focusing on sun protection, self-skin examination, medical skin examination, increased risk of melanoma for first-degree relatives, who should also be informed orally by the patients to protect themselves from UV radiation, perform self-skin examination and ask their GP or dermatologist to perform annual skin examinations.
ControlMedical skin screeningEducation and counseling as commonly delivered to the patients in clinical practice. Brief oral counseling to the patient focusing on sun protection, self-skin examination, medical skin examination, increased risk of melanoma for their first-degree relatives, who should be informed orally by the patients to protect themselves from UV radiation, perform self-skin examination and ask their GP or dermatologist to perform annual skin examination
Intervention groupIn-person counselingEducation and counseling as commonly delivered to the patients in clinical practice and written advice for their first-degree relatives. In addition to oral counseling to the patient, written advice will be provided to patients for their relatives focusing on sun protection, self-skin examination, medical skin examination, increased risk of melanoma for first-degree relatives, who should also be informed orally by the patients to protect themselves from UV radiation, perform self-skin examination and ask their GP or dermatologist to perform annual skin examinations.
ControlIn-person counselingEducation and counseling as commonly delivered to the patients in clinical practice. Brief oral counseling to the patient focusing on sun protection, self-skin examination, medical skin examination, increased risk of melanoma for their first-degree relatives, who should be informed orally by the patients to protect themselves from UV radiation, perform self-skin examination and ask their GP or dermatologist to perform annual skin examination
Intervention groupMedical skin screeningEducation and counseling as commonly delivered to the patients in clinical practice and written advice for their first-degree relatives. In addition to oral counseling to the patient, written advice will be provided to patients for their relatives focusing on sun protection, self-skin examination, medical skin examination, increased risk of melanoma for first-degree relatives, who should also be informed orally by the patients to protect themselves from UV radiation, perform self-skin examination and ask their GP or dermatologist to perform annual skin examinations.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Consulting general practitioner or dermatologist1 year

The number of relatives who will have consulted a dermatologist or a general practitioner to perform whole body skin examination

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Self-skin examination reported by the relatives1 year

The number of relatives who declare to have performed Self-skin examination.

Sun protection behaviors reported by the relatives1 year

Sun protection behaviours reported by the relatives and assessed by a questionnaire

Barriers to skin examination identified from psychological questionnaires in patients and their relatives1 year

Psychological barriers of patients and their relatives to skin examination evaluated with several questionnaires and scales.

Trial Locations

Locations (9)

CHU - ANGERS , Service de Dermatologie

🇫🇷

Angers, France

CHRU BREST Hôpital du Morvan, Institut de Cancérologie et d'Hématologie

🇫🇷

Brest, France

GH La Rochelle Ré Aunis-Service de Dermatologie

🇫🇷

La Rochelle, France

Ch Le Mans

🇫🇷

Le Mans, France

Centre Eugène Marquis -Service d'Oncologie médicale

🇫🇷

Rennes, France

University Hospital of Tours, Service de Dermatologie

🇫🇷

Tours, France

CHU -RENNES -Service de Dermatologie-CHU Pontchaillou

🇫🇷

Rennes, France

CHU-Poitiers _LA MILETRIE POLE MEDIPOOL-DERMATO-ALLERGOLOGIE

🇫🇷

Poitiers, France

CHU NANTES, Service de Dermatologie

🇫🇷

Nantes, France

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