Abstract

Background The mortality rate for melanoma continues to rise and the greatest improvement in melanoma survival is attributable to early detection with skin cancer screening exams. However, physicians feel that limited training in the examination of skin and limited clinical time both serve as barriers to adequately assess high-risk lesions. Objective To test the use of The Integrated Skin Exam film as an instructional tool to teach the examination of skin in a live classroom setting, outside of the purview of the original formal study. Methods Identical cross-sectional surveys were administered pre- and post-film to a class of first-year medical students at the time of viewing The Integrated Skin Exam film. Results were compared to the initial assessment of this film as a teaching tool in a research setting. Results Of the maximum 182 possible surveys administered, we collected 148 pre-surveys and 142 post-surveys. After viewing the film, students showed improvement in identification of high-risk demographic 34 groups and high-risk anatomic sites in both women and men. Students demonstrated increased confidence in the skin cancer examination and a greater proportion of students believed less than 3 minutes was required to integrate a skin cancer exam into the routine examination. Conclusions The Integrated Skin Exam film is a valuable training tool as proven by increased knowledge of, and improved attitudes about the 2 SCE after viewing the film. In addition, there was a striking similarity in outcomes when using this film in a live classroom 3 environment compared to the original study setting.