GENERAL-PRACTITIONER AND PATIENT RESPONSE DURING A PUBLIC-EDUCATION PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE SKIN EXAMINATIONS

Objective: To describe the response of general practitioners (GPs) and patients during the 1991 National Skin Cancer Awareness Week media ca mpaign. Design: Skin examinations in general practices in three repres entative regional towns in Queensland were monitored for five weeks ar ound the time of the campaign and participating GPs were personally in terviewed. Outcome measures: Number and type of consultations in which the skin was examined for cancer before, during and after the campaig n, and GPs' attitudes and beliefs about skin checks. Results: The 46 G Ps (47%) who participated, representing 60% of the practices, conducte d 1805 consultations in which the skin was examined for cancer. The nu mber of consultations in which skin examinations were conducted by eac h GP increased by 56% during the campaign checks were nearly initiated by the patient (90%), and in only half of all. cases was the examinat ion given as the primary reason for the consultation. Sixty-two per ce nt of lesions were considered to be clinically benign. Conclusion: Pub lic education programs may have an impact on the level of skin examina tions requested in general practice consultations. Currently, patients are the principal initiators of such examinations during consultation s - there is potential to increase the active role played by GPs in su pport of patient requests for the early detection of skin cancer.