IngentaConnect Educating patients about malignant melanoma: computer-assisted le...

Authors: Sefton, E.¹; Glazebrook, C.¹; Garrud, P.¹; Zaki, I.²

Source: British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 142, Number 1, January 2000 , pp. 66-71(6)

Abstract:

This prospective controlled study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability 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 the Orthopaedic Fracture Clinic (OFC). A baseline measure of anxiety was obtained and subjects were allocated to either non-interactive, interactive or control conditions. Measures of anxiety and knowledge about malignant melanoma and skin protection were obtained prior to discharge from the clinic and knowledge was assessed again at 1-week follow-up. Results indicate that, although anxiety in the PLC subjects decreased significantly more than in the 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 condition and control. Non-interactive CAL was associated with higher knowledge than control. Knowledge gains were maintained at 1-week follow-up.

Keywords: anxiety; computer learning; malignant melanoma; pigmented lesion clinics

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2133.2000.03243.x

Affiliations: 1: Behavioural Sciences Section, Division of Psychiatry, A Floor, South Block and 2: Department of Dermatology, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, U.K.

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