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Blake, Jay L.; Malone, Linda
Jay L. Blake, RN, DNP, Northeastern University, Boston, and Dermatology Associates, P.C., Norwood, MA.
Linda Malone, DNP, CPNP, Northeastern University and Roslindale Pediatrics Associates, Boston, MA.
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Jay L. Blake, RN, DNP, 21 Royal Street, Apt. 1, Allston, MA 02134. E-mail:
The purpose of this study was to better understand what behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge nurse practitioners (NPs) working in primary care have on the topic of skin cancer screening and prevention.
Skin cancer is currently the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, and the prevalence of skin cancer diagnoses continues to rise. Currently, melanoma stands alone as the most commonly diagnosed malignancy among those aged 25–29 years (American Academy of Dermatology, 2012), and the incidence of malignant neoplasms of the skin is higher than any other cancer malignancy tracked by the Centers for Disease Control (Rager, 2005). As researchers continue to try to determine the reason behind the increase in skin cancer diagnosis, numerous environmental and genetic factors have been identified. Most interventions for this problem have thus far been knowledge based, utilizing numerous mediums (print, video, face-to-face survey) in various environments (school, community, and physician-office based) with varying degrees of efficacy. Primary care providers (PCPs) are uniquely positioned to provide the type of knowledge-based counseling needed to reduce risky sun exposures among this population, yet counseling about safe sun exposures is among the lowest reported counseling topics discussed at PCP visits (Jun, 2005).
This capstone project is a needs assessment reviewing attitudes, behaviors, confidence, and knowledge among primary care NP providers. This was gauged via 29-question multiple-choice online survey adapted from Mikkilineni's survey of PCP offices in 2001 (Mikkilineni, 2001). Six hundred thirty-four emails were sent, and of those, 240 were opened by participants. Of those 240, 91 responded, affording the study a 37% response rate.
More than half (55%) of respondents state that they did not perform a skin examination during an initial physical on a new patient in the past month, and only 29% report performing skin examinations during annual visits. More than half (65%) state that they never or only sometimes provide patients with counseling on skin-cancer-related topics. Overall, respondees felt that counseling was important, and 90% stated that PCPs can be effective at helping their patients detect skin cancer early. However, less than half (44%) feel that patients want to be counseled on the topic. Only 1% of respondents considered his or her knowledge of skin cancer at the "expert" level, and almost half (43%) felt their knowledge was basic to minimal. Most of the respondees (81%) reported having no training in the past year related to skin cancer. Forty-one percent of the respondees report only mild to no confidence in their ability to perform skin examinations.
Survey results indicate that NPs understand the importance of screening for skin cancer as well as counseling on the topic with their patients but feel unprepared to do so. Further studies are needed to more effectively gauge NP knowledge in this area, and it is of highest importance that ongoing education is regularly provided on to further reduce the steadily climbing rates of skin cancer in the United States.
Skin cancer is currently the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, and the prevalence of skin cancer diagnoses continues to rise (American Cancer Society, 2011). Currently, melanoma stands alone as the most commonly diagnosed malignancy among those aged 25–29 years (American Academy of Dermatology, 2012). The United States Preventative Task Force estimates that, over the past 30 years, the incidence of melanoma has increased by 100% (U.S. Preventative Task Force, 2004). Currently, 1 in 51 women and 1 in 45 men will be diagnosed with a melanoma in his or her lifetime (American Cancer Society, 2011). The incidence of malignant neoplasms of the skin is currently higher than any other cancer malignancy tracked by the Centers for Disease Control (Rager, Bridgeford, & Ollila, 2005).
As researchers continue to try and determine the reason behind the increase in skin cancer diagnosis, a number of environmental (such as the increased use of indoor tanning devices) and genetic (such as having numerous nevi and fair skin) factors have been identified that may help explain this increase. Most interventions for skin cancer prevention have focused on the child, adolescent, and young adult age groups to best mitigate any damage early in life. Most of the interventions have been knowledge based, as the general population's lack of basic knowledge on the subject has been well documented (Campbell & Birsell, 1994; Knight, Kirincich, Farmer, & Hood, 2002; Shoveller, Lovato, Young, & Moffat, 2003). Interventions have used numerous mediums (mass media, hospital advertisements, home visits, telephone calls, and mailed material) in various environments (school based, outdoor community centers/pools, and primary care provider [PCP] offices) with varying degrees of efficacy (Hillhouse & Turrisi, 2002; Jackson & Aiken, 2006; Kasparian, 2009; Mahler, Kulik, Gerrard, & Gibbons 2007; Stapleton, Turrissi, Hillhouse, Robinson, & Abar, 2010).
PCPs are uniquely positioned to provide the type of knowledge-based counseling needed to reduce risky sun exposures among individuals under 30 years old at high risk of skin cancer. Currently, counseling about safe sun exposure rates among the lowest reported counseling topics discussed at PCP visits (Jun & Stafford, 2005). The objective of this study is to conduct a needs-based assessment evaluating primary care nurse practitioner (NP) behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge on the topic of skin cancer screening and prevention.
The purpose of this study is to better understand what behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge NPs working in primary care have on the topic of skin cancer screening and prevention.
The theoretical framework guiding this project is the social cognitive theory (SCT). First developed by Albert Bandura in 1977, SCT combines concepts from cognitive-behavioral theories and primarily focuses on the connection between the way we think and the way we behave (Kuhn, 2002).
This framework provides a number of concepts useful in the implementation and evaluation of health education programs (Glanz, Rimer, & Lewis, 2002). Perhaps, the most famous term associated with this theory is that of "self-efficacy," which refers to an individual's belief he or she can be successful in engaging in a given behavior and requires that the individual consider the behavior important as well as have the ability to reflect on the successes and failures he or she has had while acquiring the behavior (Glanz et al., 2002). SCT tells us that NPs would be much more likely to counsel patients on sun safety precautions if they believed they would be successful in doing so. The more that NPs working as PCPs feel they can successfully counsel on the topic, the more apt they are to engage in that behavior. NPs working in primary care must be made more familiar with the concepts of safe sun practices and feel comfortable with counseling on the topic (Glanz et al., 2002).
This capstone project is a needs assessment reviewing attitudes, behaviors, confidence, and knowledge among primary care NP providers. Opinions on the importance of counseling on the topic of safe sun practices (seeking shade, using sunscreen, avoiding exposure during peak hours) and their preparedness to discuss such topics with their patients was collected from the NP participants. The survey tool was adapted from Mikkilineni's survey of PCP offices in 2001 (Mikkilineni & Weinstock, 2001). Before use, the tool was piloted to ensure continuity and clarity among three NP alumni from the same institution planned for the survey sample. The survey was sent online using Survey Monkey. The survey included 29 questions and was expected to take less than 15 minutes to complete. It consisted of multiple-choice and yes/no format questions. Participants were sent reminders 3 weeks after the initial surveys were mailed. Data were analyzed to further ascertain perceived barriers to counseling on the topic as well as what might help to mitigate the said barriers. This study was voluntary and anonymous, and there were no benefits or repercussions for participating or not participating in this study. Demo graphic information was collected, including age, setting of practice, years in practice, and educational level. These data were kept separately from responses and coded to ensure anonymity.
Graduates of the Yale University School of Nursing who currently work in PCP office settings were surveyed for this study via email after permission was granted through the Yale Alumni Office for use of the alumni list. Six hundred thirty-four individuals were emailed the link to an online survey, and among those, 240 emails were opened by participants. Among that number, 91 responded, affording the study a 37% response rate. Among respondees who chose to participate, 64 participants, or 26% of the original 240, completed the entire survey.
Analysis of survey responses yields enlightening information on the topics of NP behaviors and attitudes when it comes to skin cancer prevention and screening as well as a number of problem areas when it comes to baseline knowledge on the topic.
Regarding NP behaviors, responses were easily divided into categories of screening (performing skin examinations on patients and screening for history of skin cancer), counseling (providing resources for their patients on the topic, discussing sunscreen use), and referring (to dermatologists for further screening when deemed necessary).
Regarding NP attitudes on the topic, responses show that, although overall NPs agree that counseling is a tool they feel to be efficacious at addressing the problem, they do not agree that patients desire counseling in the area.
Regarding NP knowledge on the topic, responses indicate, at times, a lack of basic understanding or training on the issue, and most NPs recognize their own lack of knowledge in the area.
This project was limited by the small number of respondents surveyed and was likely furthermore limited by geography given that graduates of only one university in the Northeastern United States were surveyed.
The survey results show that the respondents understand the importance of screening for skin cancer as well as counseling on the topic with their patients but feel unprepared to do so. It is unfortunate that, although the steady rise of malignant neoplasms of the skin is very well documented, most of the survey respondents report no training related to the topic of skin cancer in the past year. It is furthermore regrettable that most respondents fared quite poorly when their basic knowledge of skin cancer was assessed. This small pilot study affords us a good window into the needs NPs working as PCPs have on the topic. Further studies should be completed to better determine baseline knowledge among these providers to better determine the intervention that might best address the problem.
Special thanks to Yale University and Linda Honan Pellico, PhD, for her assistance in procuring study subjects/data.
Retrieved from http://www.aad.org/skin-conditions
Atlanta, Georgia. Retrievedfrom http://www.cancer.org/Research/CancerFactsFigures/CancerFactsFigures/cancer-facts-figures-2011
Retrieved from http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&PAGE=reference&D=med4&NEWS=N&AN=17500622
Retrieved from s http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&PAGE=reference&D=medl&NEWS=N&AN=20058183
Retrieved from http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&PAGE=reference&D=med4&NEWS=N&AN=14989578
Adolescents; Primary Care; Sunscreen; Sun Protection
Copyright © 2014 Dermatology Nurses' Association
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