Audit of public education campaign to encourage earlier detection of malignant melanoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a public campaign to encourage earlier referral and treatment of primary cutaneous malignant melanoma and thus reduce mortality related to melanoma.


METHODS
Production and distribution of educational material aimed at adults. Update information sent to general practitioners before campaign. Analysis of data on melanoma before and after campaign in June 1985.


METHODS
West of Scotland, population 2.7 million.


METHODS
Total numbers of referrals per month to melanoma clinic, numbers of melanomas diagnosed, change in distribution of thickness, and mortality before and after introducing the campaign.


RESULTS
Referrals to the pigmented lesion clinic increased by 278%, from five a week in June-July 1984 to 19 a week in June-July 1985. Twice as many women as men were referred to the clinic (49% of referrals were of women aged under 65). The numbers of newly diagnosed primary cutaneous melanoma were 63 (12/month) in January-May 1985 and 146 (21/month) in June-December 1985, an increase of 131%. The percentage of tumours detected that were less than 1.5 mm thick rose significantly by 16% (95% confidence interval 11% to 19%), from 38% (328) in 1979-84 to 54% (592) in 1985-9. Mortality began to fall in women from 1988.


CONCLUSIONS
The public education campaign succeeded in reducing the absolute number of thick tumours and melanoma related mortality in women.
MacKie
R M
RM
Department of Dermatology, University of Glasgow.
Hole
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology