Partner-Assisted Skin Self-Exams Beneficial for Patients with Melanoma

Twelve months of partner-assisted skin self-examination (SSE) interventions were sustainable and efficacious for early detection targeting individuals with a history of melanoma, according to a recent study published online ahead of print in JAMA Dermatology.

For the study, researchers sought to evaluate three alternative SSE training approaches that included partners versus treatment-as-usual. Previous research has demonstrated that in-person training on SSEs was improved when taught to patients with their partners present.

Researchers randomly assigned 494 patients with stage 0 to IIB melanoma and their partners to an in-person intervention, a take-home booklet intervention, and treatment-as-usual controls. Some patients also received an electronic interactive tablet personal computer intervention.

Results showed no significant differences in SSEs among the three interventions, and results for all three interventions were significantly higher than for controls at 4 and 12 months (all P<0.05).

The findings suggest that partner-assisted SSE interventions are beneficial for patients with a history of melanoma.

Reference

1. Turrisi R, Hultgren B, Mallett KA, et al. Comparison of efficacy of differing partner-assisted skin examination interventions for melanoma patients. JAMA Dermatol. 2015. [epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2015.0690.