Audit of public education campaign to encourage earlier detection of malignant melanoma.

The public education campaign to encourage earlier referral and treatment of primary cutaneous malignant melanoma and thus reduce mortality related to melanoma succeeded in reducing the absolute number of thick tumours and melanoma related mortality in women.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate a public campaign to encourage earlier referral and treatment of primary cutaneous malignant melanoma and thus reduce mortality related to melanoma. DESIGN: Production and distribution of educational material aimed at adults. Update information sent to general practitioners before campaign. Analysis of data on melanoma before and after campaign in June 1985. SETTING: West of Scotland, population 2.7 million. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Total numbers of referrals per month to melanoma clinic, numbers of melanomas diagnosed, change in distribution of thickness, and mortality before and after introducing the campaign. RESULTS: Referrals to the pigmented lesion clinic increased by 278%, from five a week in June-July 1984 to 19 a week in June-July 1985. Twice as many women as men were referred to the clinic (49% of referrals were of women aged under 65). The numbers of newly diagnosed primary cutaneous melanoma were 63 (12/month) in January-May 1985 and 146 (21/month) in June-December 1985, an increase of 131%. The percentage of tumours detected that were less than 1.5 mm thick rose significantly by 16% (95% confidence interval 11% to 19%), from 38% (328) in 1979-84 to 54% (592) in 1985-9. Mortality began to fall in women from 1988. CONCLUSIONS: The public education campaign succeeded in reducing the absolute number of thick tumours and melanoma related mortality in women.