Improving Skin Cancer Prevention Education in a Primary Care Setting

Background: Utah has consistently led the nation in the rate of melanoma diagnoses. Even though the melanoma mortality rate has slowed due to cancer treatment advances, the incidence rate in Utah has increased. Over the past 17 years, the rate of melanoma diagnoses has increased from 20.5 to 38.9 cases per 100,000 people. Although the exact cause of the increase in diagnosis is not explicitly known, the literature suggests that primary care providers could play a pivotal role in sun safety education and skin cancer prevention. Methods: This quality improvement project was created to aid primary care providers (PCP) in their skin cancer prevention education for patients. The PCPs in a family medicine clinic were assessed via survey with Likert style questions to identify their current skin cancer prevention education practices and their interest in using printed and online patient education material. The PCPs were given skin cancer pamphlets from the American Academy of Dermatology. In addition, small posters with basic suggestions for sun safety behaviors and skin cancer facts were placed in patient rooms with a QR code to obtain discounted sunscreen and additional information on sun safety behaviors and skin cancer prevention. To gauge patient interest in sunscreen discounts, the number of scans of the QR codes was calculated over a three-month period. A post-intervention survey was sent to determine the usability, feasibility, and satisfaction of the patient education tools. Results: The pre-intervention survey revealed that of the six providers who participated, five were physicians, and one was a physician assistant. No PCP included skin cancer prevention education for their patients. After the intervention, 100% (n=6) of the clinicians used the pamphlet to aid in skin cancer prevention education at least once and would continue to do so. 83% (n=5) of the clinicians said they directed patients to the QR codes and would continue to use them. Over 30 days, the QR codes were scanned 78 times, and 33 of the 50 pamphlets were given to patients, spanning about 700 office visits. Conclusions: The education materials provided PCPs were alternate methods of disseminating education materials to patients. Both the pamphlet and poster were well received by the PCPs and could be used to replicate this study. Future projects should assess patient feedback on motivators for sun safety behavior changes and which method of accessing education materials improved adherence to sun safety recommendations.