Skills Training to Learn Discrimination of ABCDE Criteria by Those at Risk of Developing Melanoma

Abstract

To develop skin self-examination skills by improving the use of the ABCDE criteria by those at risk of developing melanoma.Design: Ten single-sex groups of 10 unrelated adults received a knowledge-based intervention followed by skills training.Setting: Classroom in the ambulatory care area of a hospital.Patients: One hundred unrelated adults with either a personal or family history of melanoma and no previous skin self-examination counseling.Interventions: A dermatologist presented information, and each subject read a brochure and reviewed a bookmark. The facilitator led the group discussions about scoring each feature and the decision to seek medical care. Measurement of moles with a ruler and a pencil eraser and the use of an illuminated magnifying lens were demonstrated. Preintervention and postintervention assessments were performed for each intervention.

The Evolution of Melanoma Diagnosis: 25 Years Beyond the ABCDs

“…ABCDE is a simple, succinct, and memorable tool that has been demonstrated to effectively educate the public, the nondermatologist, and the dermatology medical community on the key features of melanoma, including lesion change. 30 Skin Self-Examination and Office-Based and Mass Screening…”

Skin self-examination of persons from families with familial atypical multiple mole melanoma (FAMMM)

“…We found that about one third of our genetically predisposed population did not report an adequate frequency of performing SSE as advised by the Dutch cancer foundation. More research is needed to find out why segments of high-risk groups do not follow SSE recommendations (qualitative studies), what the quality is of current SSE practices (observation of skills), and how better SSE education can be provided most efficiently (e.g., [38]). …”

The role of public education in the early detection of melanoma

“…Interestingly, a study aiming to enhance SSE skills by improving the use of the A, B, C, D, and E criteria in high risk individuals demonstrated that the discrimination of the A, B, C and E criteria was challenging for the novice, but that skill training with appropriate teaching tools (i.e., magnifying lens, rulers, pencil and eraser) enhanced their recognition and improved the performance of SSE [64]. Women recognized color variation more often than men (94 vs 62%), and men identified irregular borders more often than women (91 vs 75%), suggesting that the partnership of men and women in skin checks can act complementarily and promote early detection of early melanoma [64,65].…”

“…Women recognized color variation more often than men (94 vs 62%), and men identified irregular borders more often than women (91 vs 75%), suggesting that the partnership of men and women in skin checks can act complementarily and promote early detection of early melanoma [64,65].…”