Most patient education brochures published to date contain pictures of melanomas and nevi at one point in time. This poster will show serial photographs of new and changing dysplastic nevi (DN) with lesion descriptions prepared for a new patient education brochure.

METHODS

The research clinicians reviewed the pigmented lesion photography collection from more than 2,000 individuals in 45 families prospectively followed in a clinical epidemiologic study of familial melanoma to identify lesions photographed serially.

RESULTS

Pictures illustrating the natural history of DN and changing lesions suspicious for melanoma were selected, and descriptors of key lesion features in lay terminology were prepared. The photograph sets form the basis for a new brochure and online patient education atlas.

CONCLUSION

Education can increase knowledge, awareness, and confidence, and may increase adherence in performing skin self-examination (SSE). Serial pictures with patient-friendly explanations of important lesion features may serve as another important component of SSE education for individuals at high risk of melanoma, and ultimately help in the prevention and early detection of melanoma.

NURSING IMPLICATIONS

The availability of serial photographs of DN and evolving melanomas will provide nurses with another useful resource for teaching individuals at high risk of melanoma about SSE. Such pictures may help improve individuals' skills in performing SSE.

REFERENCES

Branstrom, R., Hedblad, M. A., Krakau, I., & Ullen, H. (2002). Laypersons' perceptual discrimination of pigmented skin lesions. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 46, 667-673.

Oliveria, S. A., Chau, D., Christos, P. J., Charles, C. A., Mushlin, A. I., & Halpern, A. C. (2004). Diagnostic accuracy of patients in performing skin self-examination and the impact of photography. Archives of Dermatology, 140, 57-62.

Phelan, D. L., Oliveria, S. A., & Halpern, A. C. (2005). Patient experiences with photo books in monthly skin self-examinations. Dermatology Nursing, 17, 109-114.

Robinson, J. K., & Turrisi, R. (2006). Skills training to learn discrimination of ABCDE criteria by those at risk of developing melanoma. Archives of Dermatology, 142, 447-452.

Tucker, M. A., Fraser, M. C., Goldstein, A. M., Struewing, J. P., King, M.A., Crawford, J. T., et al. (2002). A natural history of melanomas and dysplastic nevi: An atlas of lesions in melanoma-prone families. Cancer, 94, 3192-3209.