Educating patients about malignant melanoma: computer-assisted learning ina pigmented lesion clinic

This prospective controlled study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and a cceptability 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 th e Orthopaedic Fracture Clinic (OFC), A baseline measure of anxiety was obta ined and subjects were allocated to either non-interactive, interactive or control conditions, Measures of anxiety and knowledge about malignant melan oma and skin protection were obtained prior to discharge from the clinic an d knowledge was assessed again at 1-week follow-up. Results indicate that, although anxiety in the PLC subjects decreased significantly more than in t he 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 conditio n and control. Non-interactive CAI; was associated with higher knowledge th an control. Knowledge gains were maintained at 1-week follow-up.