Educating patients about malignant melanoma: computer-assisted learning in a pigmented lesion clinic.
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.
Sefton
E
E
Behavioural Sciences Section, Division of Psychiatry, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, U.K.
Glazebrook
C
C
Garrud
P
P
Zaki
I
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies