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Educating patients about malignant melanoma: computer‐assisted learning in a pigmented lesion clinic
Author(s) -
Sefton E.,
Glazebrook C.,
Garrud P.,
Zaki I.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2133.2000.03243.x
Subject(s) - medicine , anxiety , melanoma , lesion , intervention (counseling) , physical therapy , prospective cohort study , surgery , psychiatry , cancer research
This prospective controlled study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of a computer program (CAL) designed to educate patients about skin protection including signs of melanoma. Two hundred and twenty‐seven patients were recruited either from the Pigmented Lesion Clinic (PLC) or the Orthopaedic Fracture Clinic (OFC). A baseline measure of anxiety was obtained and subjects were allocated to either non‐interactive, interactive or control conditions. Measures of anxiety and knowledge about malignant melanoma and skin protection were obtained prior to discharge from the clinic and knowledge was assessed again at 1‐week follow‐up. Results indicate that, although anxiety in the PLC subjects decreased significantly more than in the OFC patients, there was no significant effect of intervention. There was a significant effect of intervention on knowledge ( F = 81·06, d.f. 2,218, P < 0·0001) with participants having better knowledge on leaving the clinic in the interactive CAL condition than in both the Non‐interactive condition and control. Non‐interactive CAL was associated with higher knowledge than control. Knowledge gains were maintained at 1‐week follow‐up.