Implementation of Actinic Keratosis Guideline Among General Practitioners.

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study investigates 5-fluorouracil cream prescription trends by general practitioners for the treatment of field changes of actinic keratosis over the years 2016-2021. The aim is to analyse whether the publication of the multidisciplinary guideline on suspect skin lesions for general practitioners in 2017 has made an impact in the prescribing behaviour of general practitioners.

Detailed Description
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Actinic keratosis is the most common epithelial precancerous lesion among the Caucasian race. With an increase in prevalence worldwide due to an aging population and rise of ultraviolet exposure actinic keratosis are among the most frequently encountered skin lesions in clinical practice. Both dermatologists and general practitioners are increasingly confronted with actinic keratosis, entailing to higher healthcare costs and time burden. There are many therapeutic modalities for the treatment of actinic keratosis, depending on multiple factors such as distribution, characteristics, patient preference, side effects, availability and costs. Treatment options can be divided into: lesion directed therapy en field directed therapy. Both dermatologists and general practitioners can treat actinic keratosis and 5-fluorouracil cream can also be prescribed by general practitioners. The objective of this study was to investigate 5-fluorouracil cream prescription trends by general practitioner for the treatment of field changes of actinic keratosis over the years 2016-2021.

Official Title
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Implementation of Actinic Keratosis Guideline Among General Practitioners. Retrospective Cohort Study on Prescription Patterns in the Treatment of Actinic Keratosis.

Conditions
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Actinic Keratoses

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: age >18 years diagnosis actinic keratosis (clinical diagnosed or by biopsy) Exclusion Criteria: cutaneous malignancy (suspicion) immunosuppressive co-medication.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Percentage (%) of longitudinal changes in prescriptions of 5-fluorouracil cream | Percentage (%) of longitudinal changes in prescriptions of 5-fluorouracil cream by general practitioners for the diagnosis actinic keratosis, measured from the Research Network Family Medicine Maastricht database between 2016 - 2021. The Research Network Family Medicine is a registration database with information about the affiliated general practices. | Measurement years 2016, 2019 and 2021 | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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actinic keratosis, general physician, 5-fluorouracil cream, general practitioner