Personalized melanoma risk assessments and tailored prevention advice

In this pragmatic randomised controlled trial in NSW, Australia, the effect of real-time, model-generated personalized melanoma risk information and tailored prevention advice on short-term prevention behaviors was assessed. Self-reported melanoma prevention behaviors were obtained 6 weeks after they had completed the baseline questionnaire, by 185 patients. Overall there were no statistically significant differences in sun protection, sun exposure or early diagnosis behaviors, but there were modest increases in sun protection behaviors among those at average melanoma risk. The delivery of real-time, model-generated prevention advice in general practice using a melanoma risk prediction model was shown to be highly feasible and acceptable and suggests that similar approaches to prevention, screening and support could be more widely used in primary care. Read the full text