Providers' Experiences with a Melanoma Web-Based Course: a Discussion on Barriers and Intentions.

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Medical Education
• Public Health

Background:

• Primary care visits are crucial for early skin cancer detection and reducing melanoma mortality.
• The INFORMED (INternet curriculum FOR Melanoma Early Detection) Group developed a web-based curriculum to enhance primary care providers' (PCPs) skills in detecting skin cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of a web-based melanoma early detection curriculum for PCPs.
• To gather feedback from PCPs on their experiences with the curriculum and identify barriers to its implementation.

Main Methods:

• 54 practicing PCPs from Henry Ford Health System and Kaiser Permanente Northern California completed the web-based curriculum.
• Participant focus groups were conducted with standardized questions covering curriculum impressions, improvement suggestions, current practices, and screening enhancement ideas.
• Focus group discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed, and de-identified for analysis.

Main Results:

• PCPs reported positive impressions of the web-based curriculum, suggesting the need for offline teaching aids and support.
• While confidence in diagnosing malignant lesions increased, PCPs expressed concerns regarding screening performance and time constraints.
• Institutional barriers were identified as significant factors affecting current skin examination practices and potential implementation.

Conclusions:

• The web-based curriculum is accessible, effective, and well-received, indicating strong potential for primary care implementation.
• Addressing institutional barriers, such as time constraints and support systems, is essential for successful dissemination and widespread adoption of the curriculum.
• PCPs intend to increase patient discussions about skin cancer, highlighting the curriculum's positive impact on provider behavior.