FAMILY PHYSICIANS KNOWLEDGE OF MALIGNANT-MELANOMA

Background: The incidence and mortality of melanoma have been increasi ng during the past two decades. Melanoma is relatively easy to detect and, when diagnosed early, is curable. Objective: Our purpose was to a ssess the baseline knowledge of malignant melanoma among family practi tioners and to identify their preferred method of learning new informa tion about the skin. Methods: The design was a randomized survey by ma iled questionnaire. Results: More than 50% of physicians stated they l acked confidence in being able to recognize melanoma. Family physician s were well informed on factors affecting prognosis, but knowledge def icits were identified on history, physical examination, and risk facto rs. The most effective method of learning new information about the sk in was hands-on teaching demonstration. Conclusion: Many family physic ians are not confident in their ability to recognize melanoma, and kno wledge deficits were identified. In addition, some important risk fact ors were not well recognized. Thus, those at highest risk may not be r eceiving education on early detection that may help decrease the incid ence and mortality of melanoma.