Implementation of a skin cancer screening tool in a primary care setting: a pilot study

(a) To explore whether there would be an increase in nurse practitioner (NP) skin cancer screening knowledge following an educational program. (b) To determine whether NPs report enhanced physical assessment skills when applying a screening tool in clinical practice. (c) To determine whether use of a skin cancer screening tool improves NP documentation during student physical exams.

Data were gathered in phase one of the study through a pretest, educational intervention, posttest, and program evaluation. Phase two gathered data from a prestudy patient chart analysis, and a poststudy chart analysis following implementation of a skin cancer screening tool. A convenience sample of six female NPs age of 40-64 years was drawn from a single college health center in the northeast.

There is demonstrated efficacy educating NPs in proper documentation/early detection of skin cancer among young adults in a college health, primary care setting. Findings revealed a 223.4% increase in proper documentation of skin cancer screening and skin cancer patient education.

Educating NPs in skin cancer identification, screening and use of a skin cancer screening tool is an effective way to improve quality of services provided to patients and quality of NP documentation.