Impact of Dermoscopy Training for Primary Care Practitioners on Number Needed to Biopsy to Detect Melanoma

Authors

Elizabeth V. Seiverling, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.
Madeline A. Prentiss, Maine Medical Center Division of Dermatology, Portland, ME.
Kathryn Stevens, Maine Medical Center Division of Dermatology, Portland, ME.Follow
Henry Stoddard, Maine Medical Center for Outcomes Research & Evaluation, Portland, ME.Follow
Peggy R. Cyr, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA | Maine Medical Center Department of Family Medicine, Portland, ME.Follow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-2023

Institution/Department

Family Medicine; Oncology

Journal Title

PRiMER (Leawood, Kan.)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of melanoma is on the rise. In trained hands, dermoscopy aids in the differentiation of melanoma from benign skin growths, including melanocytic nevi. This study evaluated the impact of dermoscopy training for primary care practitioners (PCPs) on the number of nevi needed to biopsy (NNB) to detect a melanoma. METHODS: We conducted an educational intervention that included a foundational dermoscopy training workshop and subsequent monthly telementoring video conferences. We performed a retrospective observational study to evaluate the impact of this intervention on the number of nevi needed to biopsy to detect a melanoma. RESULTS: The number of nevi biopsied to detect one melanoma decreased from 34.3 to 11.3 following the training intervention. CONCLUSION: Dermoscopy training for primary care practitioners resulted in a significant reduction in the NNB to detect melanoma.

First Page

276659

Recommended Citation

Seiverling EV, Prentiss MA, Stevens K, Stoddard H, Cyr PR, Ahrns H. Impact of Dermoscopy Training for Primary Care Practitioners on Number Needed to Biopsy to Detect Melanoma. PRiMER. 2023;7:276659. Published 2023 Feb 3. doi:10.22454/PRiMER.2023.276659