Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37632893›Full record

ArticleJMIR dermatology2022

Experiences of Patient-Led Surveillance, Including Patient-Performed Teledermoscopy, in the MEL-SELF Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial: Qualitative Interview Study.

Dorothy Drabarek, Emily Habgood, Monika Janda, Jolyn Hersch, Deonna Ackermann, Don Low, Cynthia Low, Rachael L Morton, Mbathio Dieng, Anne E Cust and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR dermatology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. A scoping review of digital health applications for managing noncommunicable diseases in primary care post-pandemic: Lessons from the Western Pacific Region.Malaysian family physician : the official journal of the Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia · 2025
    Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
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

13 authors.

Dorothy Drabarek *Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2893-5863
Emily Habgood *Centre for Cancer Research and Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5438-2986
Monika JandaCentre for Health Services Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1728-8085
Jolyn HerschSydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5225-6639
Deonna AckermannSydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4089-7823
Don LowCancer Voices NSW, Sydney, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8962-946X
Cynthia LowCancer Voices NSW, Sydney, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4297-1967
Rachael L MortonNHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7834-0572
Mbathio DiengNHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6714-9633
Anne E CustSydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5331-6370
Adelaide MorganSydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2900-2611
Elloise SmithSydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7163-9755
Katy L J BellSydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0137-3218

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCurrent clinician-led melanoma surveillance models require frequent routinely scheduled clinic visits, with associated travel, cost, and time burden for patients. Patient-led surveillance is a new model of follow-up care that could reduce health care use such as clinic visits and medical procedures and their associated costs, increase access to care, and promote early diagnosis of a subsequent new melanoma after treatment of a primary melanoma. Understanding patient experiences may allow improvements in implementation.

objectiveThis study aims to explore patients' experiences and perceptions of patient-led surveillance during the 6 months of participation in the MEL-SELF pilot randomized controlled trial. Patient-led surveillance comprised regular skin self-examination, use of a mobile dermatoscope to image lesions of concern, and a smartphone app to track and send images to a teledermatologist for review, in addition to usual care.

methodsSemistructured interviews were conducted with patients previously treated for melanoma localized to the skin in New South Wales, Australia, who were randomized to the patient-led surveillance (intervention group) in the trial. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data with reference to the technology acceptance model.

resultsWe interviewed 20 patients (n=8, 40% women and n=12, 60% men; median age 62 years). Patients who were more adherent experienced benefits such as increased awareness of their skin and improved skin self-examination practice, early detection of melanomas, and opportunities to be proactive in managing their clinical follow-up. Most participants experienced difficulty in obtaining clear images and technical problems with the app. These barriers were overcome or persevered by participants with previous experience with digital technology and with effective help from a skin check partner (such as a spouse, sibling, or friend). Having too many or too few moles decreased perceived usefulness.

conclusionsPatients with melanoma are receptive to and experience benefits from patient-led surveillance using teledermoscopy. Increased provision of training and technical support to patients and their skin check partners may help to realize the full potential benefits of this new model of melanoma surveillance.

Indexed as

digital technologiesmelanomamHealthmobile phoneself-surveillanceteledermatologyteledermoscopy

Identifiers

PMID37632893
PMCPMC10334928

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Registered trials

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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.