Situation
Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world. However, awareness of non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) and solar keratoses (SK) (a precursor to NMSC) among healthcare professionals (HCPs) and the general public is sub-optimal.
Initiatives
Prior to launching a new topical treatment for SK in Australia, the Know Your Own Skin campaign was developed to equip HCPs with the knowledge to detect and manage SK and NMSC, and patients to seek medical advice for suspicious skin lesions.
A medical and editorial advisory board consisting of dermatologists, general practitioners (GPs), nurses and pharmacists was formed. This board was responsible for content development of educational material and also provided reviewers for accredited courses and educational material.
The following educational materials/programmes were developed:
- Educational print materials, including posters, patient leaflets and a surgery card on SK
- A website that included a photo gallery, reference library, online learning modules, Know Your Own Skin mobile application and patient education tools
- Online learning modules, with the following features:
- Interactive, case-based learning designed to cover application of basic sciences, good clinical practice and development of patient safety systems
- Learning experienced enhanced with illustrations, video demonstrations and self-assessment questions
- Accredited by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), Australia College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), Australian Practice Nurses Association (APNA) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA).
- A face-to-face active learning module (ALM) In Touch, a one-day meeting for GPs and nurses, that was accredited by RACGP and ACCRM for continuous professional development (CPD) points.
- In Touch consisted of:
- case-based discussions
- lecture, mini-case studies and tutorial on dermoscopy
- patient communication and role playing
- practical skin biopsy workshop
- A nurse/pharmacist skin check training program, consisting of a:
- pre-meeting activity (online learning)
- face-to-face meeting and practical workshop