Over 50 per cent of family physicians in Ontario lack confidence in recognizing malignant melanoma, according to a recent study published in the journal American Academy of Dermatology . From of U of T s department of medicine and head of the division of dermatology at Women s College Hospital . However, people at highest risk for melanoma may not be receiving information about early detection that could help decrease the incidence and mortality of melanoma. The study showed that while family physicians are well informed on factors affecting prognosis, they did not recognize some important and sometimes unexpected risk factors such as working indoors or multiple moles.
Doctors also lack knowledge about the history of and physical examination for melanoma.
The study, conducted to assess the learning needs of family physicians to create effective education programs, involved mailing a questionnaire to 750 randomly selected Ontario doctors. Although the investigators recommend further education on melanoma, they were unable to identify the most effective program. A user-f riendly interactive learning program would be an alternative, more effective method but only 30 per cent rated this as very or extremely useful. Collaborating on the study with From were Dr. Adrianne Cohen and Jane Tipping of U of T s continuing medical education office and Dr. Anne Stephenson, a former U of T medical student. Funding for the research was supported in part by a continuing medical education grant from the Faculty of Medicine .