The Integrated Skin Exam film: an educational intervention to promote early detection of melanoma by medical students.
BACKGROUND
Knowledge of the skin cancer examination (SCE) and its practice remain relevant competency gaps among medical students.


OBJECTIVE
We elaborate on a method of SCE known as the Integrated Skin Exam and discuss the development of an instructional film that illustrates its principles. We assess the tool's effect on knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions related to the SCE.


METHODS
Second-year students among 8 randomized schools viewed the film and completed pre-post questionnaires.


RESULTS
After viewing The Integrated Skin Exam film, students demonstrated improved melanoma knowledge, including identification of high-risk demographic groups (61% vs 42.9%, P < .001), high-risk anatomic sites in women (88.6% vs 46.5%, P < .001) and men (92.1% vs 34.8%, P < .001), and the ABCDEs of melanoma (98.4% vs 91.2%, P < .001). Students demonstrated increased confidence in the SCE (66.93% vs 16.40%, P < .001) and augmented intentions to practice it (99.05% vs 13.9%, P < .001). A greater proportion (70.4% vs 41.9%, P < .001) of students thought less than 3 minutes were required to integrate SCE into the routine examination.


CONCLUSIONS
Longitudinal impact of the film was not assessed.


CONCLUSIONS
The Integrated Skin Exam film introduces an integrated approach to the SCE that addresses knowledge gaps, mitigates perceived barriers, and augments intention related to practice of the SCE.
Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: ambo73@gmail.com.
Amit
A
Garg
Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
Joyce
J
Wang
Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
Shalini B
SB
Reddy
Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
Jennifer
J
Powers
Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
Reza
R
Jacob
Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
Michael
M
Powers
Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
Katie
K
Biello
University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas, Dallas, Texas.
Rachael
R
Cayce
University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas, Dallas, Texas.
Stephanie
S
Savory
University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Leah
L
Belazarian
University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Erik
E
Domingues
Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York.
Adam
A
Korzenko
University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Lindsay
L
Wilson
University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut.
Jane M
JM
Grant-Kels
Brown Alpert Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island.
Paul
P
George
Brown Alpert Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island.
Leslie
L
Robinson-Bostom
Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio.
Shannon C
SC
Trotter
Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
Alan C
AC
Geller
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003880:Dermatology / Q000193:education*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D004501:Education, Medical; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009040:Motion Pictures; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology
ISE; Integrated Skin Exam; PCP; SCE; integrated skin cancer examination; medical education; medical students; melanoma; primary care physicians; skin cancer examination