Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

Examination of the Ability of People to Identify Early Changes of Melanoma in Computer-Altered Pigmented Skin Lesions

Examination of the Ability of People to Identify Early Changes of Melanoma in Computer-Altered... Abstract Objectives: To examine whether older people were less able to distinguish changes of melanoma than younger people, and to test whether an educational brochure illustrating changes of melanoma would increase their ability to detect the changes. Design: Photographic images of pigmented skin lesions were altered using computer graphics software. Images of typical changes of melanoma were shown to groups of volunteers younger than 30 years (n=52) and older than 45 years (n=41). Short intervals (seconds) between viewing of the original and changed lesions were used to test ability to distinguish the changes, and longer intervals (29 and 60 days) were used to test their ability over more realistic intervals. All participants were randomized to receive an educational brochure (designed using the same technology) to evaluate whether this would assist in identifying early changes of melanoma. Setting: A cross section of volunteers employed in a large semigovernment utility. Intervention: An educational brochure that illustrated typical changes of melanoma. Main Outcome Measure: Score of correct or incorrect detection of changed or unchanged skin lesions. Results: Tests at short intervals showed that both age groups were able to detect early changes of melanoma but had poor ability to detect changes of melanoma at longer intervals. Repeated viewing of the original lesions enabled the participants to once more recognize the changes. Both groups had low ability to detect the appearance of new pigmented lesions. The educational brochure improved the ability of participants to detect change. Conclusions: The main difficulty people have in self-detection of melanoma is limited ability to recall the appearance of their skin. This ability did not differ between the age groups. Educational material that focused on change was effective in increasing the ability to detect changes over short intervals. Photographic records may be the most effective aid for detection of changes at longer intervals.Arch Dermatol. 1997;133:301-311 References 1. Coates M, Day P, McCredie M, Taylor R. NSW cancer incidence and mortality 1992 . In: NSW Central Cancer Registry . Sydney, Australia: NSW Cancer Council; 1995. 2. MacLennan R, Green AC, McLeod GRC, Martin NG. Increasing incidence of cutaneous melanoma in Queensland, Australia . J Natl Cancer Inst. 1992;84: 1427-1432.Crossref 3. Bonnett A, Roder D, Esterman A. Epidemiological features of melanoma in South Australia: an implication for cancer control . Med J Aust. 1989;151: 502-509. 4. Jones ME, Shugg D, Dwyer T, Young B, Bonnett A. Interstate differences in incidence and mortality from melanoma: a re-examination of the latitudinal gradient . Med J Aust. 1992;157:373-378. 5. McCredie M, Coates M, Chu S, Taylor R. Trends in cancer incidence by region in NSW 1972-1990 . In: NSW Central Cancer Registry . Sydney, Australia: NSW Cancer Council; 1992. 6. Friedman LC, Webb JA, Bruce S, Weinberg AD, Cooper HP. Skin cancer and early detection: intentions and behavior . Am J Prev Med. 1995;11:59-65. 7. Kopf AW, Salopek TG, Slade J, Marghoob A, Bart RS. Techniques of cutaneous examination for the detection of skin cancer . Cancer . 1995;75( (suppl) ):684-690.Crossref 8. Ries LA, Hankey BF, Edwards RR, eds. Cancer Statistics Review: 1973-1987 . Bethesda, Md: National Cancer Institute; 1990. National Institutes of Health publication 90-2789. 9. Rivers JK, Gallagher RP. Public education projects in skin cancer: experience of the Canadian Dermatology Association . Cancer . 1995;75( (suppl 2) ):661-666.Crossref 10. Buttner P, Garbe C, Bertz J, et al. Primary cutaneous melanoma: optimized cutoff points of tumor thickness and importance of Clarks level for prognostic classification . Cancer . 1995;75:2499-2506.Crossref 11. Thorn M, Ponten F, Bergstrom R, Sparen P, Adami H. Clinical and histopathologic predictors of survival of patients with malignant melanoma: a population based study in Sweden . J Natl Cancer Inst. 1994;86:761-769.Crossref 12. Balch CM, Soong SJ, Shaw HM, Urist MM, McCarthy WH. An analysis of prognostic factors in 8500 patients with cutaneous melanoma . In: Balch CM, Houghton AN, Milton GW, et al, eds. Cutaneous Melanoma . Philadelphia, Pa: JB Lippincott; 1992:165-185. 13. Breslow A. Tumor thickness, level of invasion and node dissection in stage 1 cutaneous melanoma . Ann Surg. 1975;182:572-578.Crossref 14. Balch CM, Soong SJ, Shaw HM, Milton GW. An analysis of prognostic factors in 4000 patients with cutaneous melanoma . In: Balch CM, Milton GW, eds. Cutaneous Melanoma . Philadelphia, Pa: JB Lippincott; 1985:321-338. 15. Hersey P, Sillar R, Howe CG, et al. Factors related to the presentation of patients with thick primary melanomas . Med J Aust. 1991;154:583-587. 16. McHenry PM, Hole DJ, Mackie RM. Melanoma in people aged over 65 in Scotland, 1979-89 . BMJ . 1992;304:746-749.Crossref 17. Cohen HJ, Cox E, Manton K, Woodbury M. Malignant melanoma in the elderly . J Clin Oncol. 1987;5:100-106. 18. McCredie M, Coates M, Day P, Bell J. Changes in incidence and mortality from cancer in New South Wales . Med J Aust. 1995;163:520-523. 19. Girgis A, Campbell E, Redman S, Sanson-Fisher R. Screening for melanoma: a community survey of prevalence and predictors . Med J Aust. 1991;151:338-343. 20. Friedman LC, Webb JA, Bruce S, Weinberg AD, Cooper HP. Skin cancer prevention and early detection: intentions and behavior . Am J Prev Med. 1995; 11:59-65. 21. Borland R, Meehan J. Skin examination for signs of cancer . Aust J Public Health . 1995;19:85-88.Crossref 22. Balanda K, Lowe JB, Stanton WR, Gillespie AM. Enhancing the early detection of melanoma within current guidelines . Aust J Public Health . 1994;18:420-423.Crossref 23. Koh HK, Miller DR, Geller AC, et al. Who discovers melanoma? J Am Acad Dermatol. 1992;26:914-919.Crossref 24. Berwick M, Begg CB, Fine JA, Roush GC, Barnhill RL. Screening for cutaneous melanoma by skin self examination . J Natl Cancer Inst. 1996;88:17-23.Crossref 25. Marks R, Dorevitch AP, Mason G. Do all melanomas come from 'moles'? a study of the histological association between melanocytic naevi and melanoma . Aust J Dermatol. 1990;31:77-80.Crossref 26. Mackie RM. Melanocytic naevi and malignant melanoma . In: Champion RH, Burton JL, Ebling FJG, eds. Rook Wilkinson Ebling Textbook of Dermatology . 5th ed. Cambridge, Mass: Blackwell Publishers: 1992;2:1525-1560. 27. Rivers JK, Kopf AW, Vinokur AF, et al. Clinical characteristics of malignant melanomas developing in persons with dysplastic nevi . Cancer . 1990;65:1232-1236.Crossref 28. Borland R, Marks R, Noy S. Public knowledge about characteristics of moles and melanomas . Aust J Public Health . 1992;16:370-375.Crossref 29. Mackie RM. Clinical recognition of early invasive melanoma . BMJ . 1990;301: 1005-1006.Crossref 30. Miles F, Meehan JW. Visual discrimination of pigmented skin lesions . Health Psychol. 1995;14:171-177.Crossref 31. Shriner DL, Wagner RF, Zahradka S. Patients skin self examination in the dysplastic naevus syndrome using full-scale color total body photographs . J Dermatol Treatment . 1990;1:251-254.Crossref 32. Del Mar CB, Green AC. Aid to diagnosis of melanoma in primary medical care . BMJ . 1995;310:492-495.Crossref 33. Hanrahan P, Hersey P, Watson AB, Callaghan TM. The effect of an educational brochure on knowledge and early detection of melanoma . Aust J Public Health . 1995;19:270-274.Crossref http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Archives of Dermatology American Medical Association

Examination of the Ability of People to Identify Early Changes of Melanoma in Computer-Altered Pigmented Skin Lesions

Loading next page...
 
/lp/american-medical-association/examination-of-the-ability-of-people-to-identify-early-changes-of-GzxsLQKXt8

References (39)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0003-987X
eISSN
1538-3652
DOI
10.1001/archderm.1997.03890390039006
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract Objectives: To examine whether older people were less able to distinguish changes of melanoma than younger people, and to test whether an educational brochure illustrating changes of melanoma would increase their ability to detect the changes. Design: Photographic images of pigmented skin lesions were altered using computer graphics software. Images of typical changes of melanoma were shown to groups of volunteers younger than 30 years (n=52) and older than 45 years (n=41). Short intervals (seconds) between viewing of the original and changed lesions were used to test ability to distinguish the changes, and longer intervals (29 and 60 days) were used to test their ability over more realistic intervals. All participants were randomized to receive an educational brochure (designed using the same technology) to evaluate whether this would assist in identifying early changes of melanoma. Setting: A cross section of volunteers employed in a large semigovernment utility. Intervention: An educational brochure that illustrated typical changes of melanoma. Main Outcome Measure: Score of correct or incorrect detection of changed or unchanged skin lesions. Results: Tests at short intervals showed that both age groups were able to detect early changes of melanoma but had poor ability to detect changes of melanoma at longer intervals. Repeated viewing of the original lesions enabled the participants to once more recognize the changes. Both groups had low ability to detect the appearance of new pigmented lesions. The educational brochure improved the ability of participants to detect change. Conclusions: The main difficulty people have in self-detection of melanoma is limited ability to recall the appearance of their skin. This ability did not differ between the age groups. Educational material that focused on change was effective in increasing the ability to detect changes over short intervals. Photographic records may be the most effective aid for detection of changes at longer intervals.Arch Dermatol. 1997;133:301-311 References 1. Coates M, Day P, McCredie M, Taylor R. NSW cancer incidence and mortality 1992 . In: NSW Central Cancer Registry . Sydney, Australia: NSW Cancer Council; 1995. 2. MacLennan R, Green AC, McLeod GRC, Martin NG. Increasing incidence of cutaneous melanoma in Queensland, Australia . J Natl Cancer Inst. 1992;84: 1427-1432.Crossref 3. Bonnett A, Roder D, Esterman A. Epidemiological features of melanoma in South Australia: an implication for cancer control . Med J Aust. 1989;151: 502-509. 4. Jones ME, Shugg D, Dwyer T, Young B, Bonnett A. Interstate differences in incidence and mortality from melanoma: a re-examination of the latitudinal gradient . Med J Aust. 1992;157:373-378. 5. McCredie M, Coates M, Chu S, Taylor R. Trends in cancer incidence by region in NSW 1972-1990 . In: NSW Central Cancer Registry . Sydney, Australia: NSW Cancer Council; 1992. 6. Friedman LC, Webb JA, Bruce S, Weinberg AD, Cooper HP. Skin cancer and early detection: intentions and behavior . Am J Prev Med. 1995;11:59-65. 7. Kopf AW, Salopek TG, Slade J, Marghoob A, Bart RS. Techniques of cutaneous examination for the detection of skin cancer . Cancer . 1995;75( (suppl) ):684-690.Crossref 8. Ries LA, Hankey BF, Edwards RR, eds. Cancer Statistics Review: 1973-1987 . Bethesda, Md: National Cancer Institute; 1990. National Institutes of Health publication 90-2789. 9. Rivers JK, Gallagher RP. Public education projects in skin cancer: experience of the Canadian Dermatology Association . Cancer . 1995;75( (suppl 2) ):661-666.Crossref 10. Buttner P, Garbe C, Bertz J, et al. Primary cutaneous melanoma: optimized cutoff points of tumor thickness and importance of Clarks level for prognostic classification . Cancer . 1995;75:2499-2506.Crossref 11. Thorn M, Ponten F, Bergstrom R, Sparen P, Adami H. Clinical and histopathologic predictors of survival of patients with malignant melanoma: a population based study in Sweden . J Natl Cancer Inst. 1994;86:761-769.Crossref 12. Balch CM, Soong SJ, Shaw HM, Urist MM, McCarthy WH. An analysis of prognostic factors in 8500 patients with cutaneous melanoma . In: Balch CM, Houghton AN, Milton GW, et al, eds. Cutaneous Melanoma . Philadelphia, Pa: JB Lippincott; 1992:165-185. 13. Breslow A. Tumor thickness, level of invasion and node dissection in stage 1 cutaneous melanoma . Ann Surg. 1975;182:572-578.Crossref 14. Balch CM, Soong SJ, Shaw HM, Milton GW. An analysis of prognostic factors in 4000 patients with cutaneous melanoma . In: Balch CM, Milton GW, eds. Cutaneous Melanoma . Philadelphia, Pa: JB Lippincott; 1985:321-338. 15. Hersey P, Sillar R, Howe CG, et al. Factors related to the presentation of patients with thick primary melanomas . Med J Aust. 1991;154:583-587. 16. McHenry PM, Hole DJ, Mackie RM. Melanoma in people aged over 65 in Scotland, 1979-89 . BMJ . 1992;304:746-749.Crossref 17. Cohen HJ, Cox E, Manton K, Woodbury M. Malignant melanoma in the elderly . J Clin Oncol. 1987;5:100-106. 18. McCredie M, Coates M, Day P, Bell J. Changes in incidence and mortality from cancer in New South Wales . Med J Aust. 1995;163:520-523. 19. Girgis A, Campbell E, Redman S, Sanson-Fisher R. Screening for melanoma: a community survey of prevalence and predictors . Med J Aust. 1991;151:338-343. 20. Friedman LC, Webb JA, Bruce S, Weinberg AD, Cooper HP. Skin cancer prevention and early detection: intentions and behavior . Am J Prev Med. 1995; 11:59-65. 21. Borland R, Meehan J. Skin examination for signs of cancer . Aust J Public Health . 1995;19:85-88.Crossref 22. Balanda K, Lowe JB, Stanton WR, Gillespie AM. Enhancing the early detection of melanoma within current guidelines . Aust J Public Health . 1994;18:420-423.Crossref 23. Koh HK, Miller DR, Geller AC, et al. Who discovers melanoma? J Am Acad Dermatol. 1992;26:914-919.Crossref 24. Berwick M, Begg CB, Fine JA, Roush GC, Barnhill RL. Screening for cutaneous melanoma by skin self examination . J Natl Cancer Inst. 1996;88:17-23.Crossref 25. Marks R, Dorevitch AP, Mason G. Do all melanomas come from 'moles'? a study of the histological association between melanocytic naevi and melanoma . Aust J Dermatol. 1990;31:77-80.Crossref 26. Mackie RM. Melanocytic naevi and malignant melanoma . In: Champion RH, Burton JL, Ebling FJG, eds. Rook Wilkinson Ebling Textbook of Dermatology . 5th ed. Cambridge, Mass: Blackwell Publishers: 1992;2:1525-1560. 27. Rivers JK, Kopf AW, Vinokur AF, et al. Clinical characteristics of malignant melanomas developing in persons with dysplastic nevi . Cancer . 1990;65:1232-1236.Crossref 28. Borland R, Marks R, Noy S. Public knowledge about characteristics of moles and melanomas . Aust J Public Health . 1992;16:370-375.Crossref 29. Mackie RM. Clinical recognition of early invasive melanoma . BMJ . 1990;301: 1005-1006.Crossref 30. Miles F, Meehan JW. Visual discrimination of pigmented skin lesions . Health Psychol. 1995;14:171-177.Crossref 31. Shriner DL, Wagner RF, Zahradka S. Patients skin self examination in the dysplastic naevus syndrome using full-scale color total body photographs . J Dermatol Treatment . 1990;1:251-254.Crossref 32. Del Mar CB, Green AC. Aid to diagnosis of melanoma in primary medical care . BMJ . 1995;310:492-495.Crossref 33. Hanrahan P, Hersey P, Watson AB, Callaghan TM. The effect of an educational brochure on knowledge and early detection of melanoma . Aust J Public Health . 1995;19:270-274.Crossref

Journal

Archives of DermatologyAmerican Medical Association

Published: Mar 1, 1997

There are no references for this article.