Abstract
ABSTRACT: At its 2010 annual meeting, the Dermatology Nurses' Association announced the launch of the Smack-A-Mole game. Developed in part to raise funds for the Dermatology Nurses' Association, Smack-A-Mole is a teaching tool that entices its audience to "play" while reinforcing the ABCDE warning signs of melanoma and the need to adopt prevention behavior. Players must identify and click on the "rogue moles" (asymmetric mole, border mole, color mole, diameter mole, and evolving mole) to earn points and progress through the game. The "More Info" section reinforces the early detection warning signs of melanoma, shows examples of basal and squamous cell carcinomas, and reviews prevention behaviors. The final "More Info" page contains a series of links to Web sites, including the Dermatology Nurses' Association, the American Academy of Dermatology, the SunAWARE, the Skin Cancer Foundation, the SunWise, the Canadian Dermatology Association, and the Children's Melanoma Prevention Foundation. This article describes the story behind the game's creation and illustrates how the Smack-A-Mole game can be effectively used in one-on-one patient education sessions, health fairs, and wellness events and as a teaching tool in the private practice and clinic settings.