Computer-Based Continuing Education for Doctors in Examination and Counseling of Patients on Skin Cancer or Weight Control

NCT ID: NCT00295906

Last Updated: 2013-12-18

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

4550 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2004-06-30

Brief Summary

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RATIONALE: Computer-based continuing education courses may be effective in improving the skills of primary care doctors to identify skin cancer risk factors, perform skin cancer exams, and counsel patients. They may also improve the skills of primary care doctors to assess and counsel patients on their weight, diet, and physical activity.

PURPOSE: This randomized clinical trial is studying how well computer-based continuing education courses work in improving doctors' ability to perform skin cancer or weight control exams and counseling during routine office visits.

Detailed Description

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OBJECTIVES:

Primary

* Compare the efficacy of a continuing education course designed to improve primary care physician performance in examination and counseling of patients about skin cancer vs a continuing education course designed to improve physician assessment of weight management.
* Evaluate physician performance of skin examination during routine patient visits at 12 months after completion of the skin cancer continuing education course.
* Evaluate physician counseling around skin cancer issues.

Secondary

* Evaluate the efficacy of the skin cancer continuing education course in improving physician skin cancer triage skills and in changing physician attitudes and knowledge regarding skin cancer issues.
* Assess improvements in physician assessment of weight, diet, and physical activity.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, multicenter study. Physicians are stratified according to participating center. Physicians are randomized to 1 of 2 intervention arms.

* Arm I (skin cancer continuing education course): Physicians complete a 1-hour continuing education course on skin cancer. The course is available to the physician as a reference for up to 12 months. Physicians complete an online test at baseline, immediately after the course is completed, and at 1 month and 12 months after course completion to assess their knowledge, attitudes, skill, and practices towards skin examination and skin cancer counseling.

Patients are interviewed by telephone within 1 week after a routine office visit with their physician to assess the physician's skin assessment and skin cancer counseling practices. The interviews are conducted prior to and at 1 month and 12 months after the physician completes the continuing education course.

* Arm II (weight control continuing education course): Physicians complete a 1-hour continuing education course on weight, dietary, and physical activity assessment and counseling. The course is available to the physician as a reference for up to 12 months. Physicians complete an online test at baseline, immediately after the course is completed, and at 1 month and 12 months after course completion to assess their knowledge, attitudes, skill, and practices towards weight, dietary, and physical activity assessment and counseling.

Patients are interviewed by telephone within 1 week after a routine office visit with their physician to assess the physician's weight, dietary, and physical activity assessment and counseling practices. The interviews are conducted prior to and at 1 month and 12 months after the physician completes the continuing education course.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 50 physicians and 4,500 patients will be accrued for this study.

Conditions

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Melanoma (Skin) Non-melanomatous Skin Cancer

Keywords

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melanoma skin cancer

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Interventions

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educational intervention

Intervention Type OTHER

internet-based intervention

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Primary care physician, meeting all of the following criteria:

* General internist or family physician
* Must devote at least 75% of their time to primary care practice
* At least 1 year in practice
* Must be in a community-based practice with no more than 1 participating physician per practice
* Must not be planning to retire within the next 2 years
* Has a patient population that is predominantly at substantial risk of melanoma and other skin cancers (i.e., adults whose non-sun-exposed skin color is white or tan, but not brown)
* Patient

* Adult who is scheduled for a routine office visit with a study physician

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* Not specified

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* Not specified
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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National Cancer Institute (NCI)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Rhode Island Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Principal Investigators

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Martin A. Weinstock, MD, PhD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Rhode Island Hospital

Locations

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Scripps-Ranch Family Medicine Clinic at University of California

San Diego, California, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

University of Kansas School of Medicine - Wichita

Wichita, Kansas, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute at Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University - Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Rhode Island Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center

Providence, Rhode Island, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Facility Contacts

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Martin L. Kabongo, MD, PhD

Role: primary

Ken J. Kallail, PhD

Role: primary

Ohio State University Cancer Clinical Trial Matching Service

Role: primary

Clinical Trials Office - Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jeffer

Role: primary

Clinical Trials Office - Rhode Island Hospital Comprehensive C

Role: primary

Other Identifiers

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RIH-1050258954A1

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: secondary_id

RIH-0348-03

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: secondary_id

CDR0000454721

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id