Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32295791›Full record

ArticleBJGP open2020

GPs' involvement in diagnosing, treating, and referring patients with suspected or confirmed primary cutaneous melanoma: a qualitative study.

Andrea L Smith, Caroline G Watts, Samuel Robinson, Helen Schmid, Chiao-Han Chang, John F Thompson, Frances Rapport, Anne E Cust, Australian Melanoma Centre of Research Excellence Study Group

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BJGP open, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
1.3field-weighted citation impact, top 18% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 19 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
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  7. The effect of screening on melanoma incidence and biopsy rates.The British journal of dermatology · 2022
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Andrea L SmithResearch Fellow, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia andrea.smith@mq.edu.au.
Caroline G WattsResearch Fellow, Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Samuel RobinsonResearch Officer, Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Helen SchmidProject Manager, Centre for Cancer Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia.
Chiao-Han ChangResearch Assistant, Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
John F ThompsonMelanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia.
Frances RapportProfessor of Health Implementation Science, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
Anne E CustProfessor of Cancer Epidemiology, Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Australian Melanoma Centre of Research Excellence Study Group
University of Sydney · AUMelanoma Institute Australia · AUAustralian Institute of Health and Welfare · AUWestmead Institute for Medical Research · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIn Australia, melanoma is managed in primary and secondary care settings. An individual concerned about a suspicious lesion typically presents first to their GP.

aimTo identify factors influencing GPs' decisions to diagnose, treat, or refer patients with suspected melanoma. DESIGN &

settingSemi-structured interviews were undertaken with 23 GPs working in general practice or skin cancer clinics in Australia.

methodThe semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded, de-identified, and professionally transcribed. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.

resultsConsiderable variation existed in GPs' self-reported confidence and involvement in melanoma management. Multiple factors were identified as influencing GPs' decisions to diagnose, treat, or refer patients with suspected or confirmed melanoma. Health system level factors included the overlapping roles of GPs and specialists, and access to and/or availability of specialists. Practice level factors included opportunities for formal and informal training, and having a GP with a special interest in skin cancer within their practice. GP and patient level factors included the GP's clinical interests, the clinical features (for example, site and size) and histopathology of the suspected melanoma, eligibility for possible sentinel lymph node biopsy, and patient preferences. For some GPs, concerns over misdiagnosis and the option of referring patients at any stage in the melanoma management continuum appeared to affect their interest and confidence in melanoma management.

conclusionGP involvement in melanoma patient care can extend well beyond cancer screening, prevention and supportive care roles to include provision of definitive melanoma patient management. GPs with an interest in being involved in melanoma management should be encouraged and supported to develop the skills needed to manage these patients, and to refer when appropriate.

Indexed as

Australiadiagnosisgeneral practicemelanomaprimary healthcarequalitative researchtreatment

Identifiers

PMID32295791
PMCPMC7330208
OpenAlexW3016940895

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.