Skin Self-Examination for Early Detection of Melanoma: Intervention and Consequence

OBJECTIVES:

• Determine the incidence of monthly thorough skin self-examinations (TSE) for early detection of melanoma in healthy participants who are under routine care by their primary care physician.
• Determine the impact of the intervention package and the resulting change in TSE performance, in terms of visits to healthcare providers for skin problems, in these participants.
• Evaluate the efficacy of this intervention package in improving performance of TSE in these participants.
• Estimate potential effect of this intervention on health care resource use.

OUTLINE: This is a controlled, randomized study.

Two weeks prior to their appointment with their physician, participants undergo a baseline assessment. During the appointment, participants are randomized to 1 of 2 intervention arms.

• Arm I (control): Participants receive written educational materials and watch a video on healthy dietary habits during their appointment. They receive nutrition tip sheets, including information related to reducing fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol in the diet, at 2 and 6 months after their initial appointment. Participants also undergo telephone assessments at 2, 6, and 12 months after their initial appointment.
• Arm II (skin self-examinations): Participants undergo a 10- to 15-minute face-to-face counseling session with the study intervention specialist and receive training in thorough skin self-examination (TSE) directly after their appointment. They also receive written educational materials and watch a 25-minute video designed to motivate and teach them to do TSE. Two weeks later, participants receive a follow-up call from the same study intervention specialist. Participants receive tailored feedback at 2 and 6 months and a motivational postcard at 4 months after their initial appointment. Participants also undergo telephone assessments as in arm I.