BACKGROUND: Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common malignancy in transplant patients. However, routine skin cancer evaluation is currently not the standard of care. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the current barriers among transplant physicians to skin cancer screening in their patients. To provide recommendations for appropriate routine skin surveillance. METHODS: A web-based survey was conducted among Baylor, Dallas transplant physicians. Thirty-seven of 46 responses were received, and 13 physicians (28%) were classified as "high screeners." RESULTS: The univariate analysis revealed three main barriers including the perception of difficulty in seeing a dermatologist (p = 0.017), skin cancer evaluation is not an important aspect of transplant care (p = 0.038), and thirdly, the belief that there is insufficient evidence to warrant universal skin cancer screening in transplant patients (p = 0.013). The fully adjusted multivariable analysis resulted in two significant conclusions; the most important predictor was the perceived lack of medical evidence for skin cancer screening. LIMITATIONS: The small sample size and all responses being from the same institution in Texas. CONCLUSION: The dermatologic evidence for regular skin cancer screening in transplant patients needs dissemination to our transplant colleagues. This is a significant practice gap which can be appropriately closed by integrating dermatologists into the transplant team.
BACKGROUND:Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common malignancy in transplant patients. However, routine skin cancer evaluation is currently not the standard of care. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the current barriers among transplant physicians to skin cancer screening in their patients. To provide recommendations for appropriate routine skin surveillance. METHODS: A web-based survey was conducted among Baylor, Dallas transplant physicians. Thirty-seven of 46 responses were received, and 13 physicians (28%) were classified as "high screeners." RESULTS: The univariate analysis revealed three main barriers including the perception of difficulty in seeing a dermatologist (p = 0.017), skin cancer evaluation is not an important aspect of transplant care (p = 0.038), and thirdly, the belief that there is insufficient evidence to warrant universal skin cancer screening in transplant patients (p = 0.013). The fully adjusted multivariable analysis resulted in two significant conclusions; the most important predictor was the perceived lack of medical evidence for skin cancer screening. LIMITATIONS: The small sample size and all responses being from the same institution in Texas. CONCLUSION: The dermatologic evidence for regular skin cancer screening in transplant patients needs dissemination to our transplant colleagues. This is a significant practice gap which can be appropriately closed by integrating dermatologists into the transplant team.
Authors: Priyadharsini Nagarajan; Maryam M Asgari; Adele C Green; Samantha M Guhan; Sarah T Arron; Charlotte M Proby; Dana E Rollison; Catherine A Harwood; Amanda Ewart Toland Journal: Clin Cancer Res Date: 2018-12-06 Impact factor: 12.531
Authors: Alyce Anderson; Laura K Ferris; Benjamin Click; Claudia Ramos-Rivers; Ioannis E Koutroubakis; Jana G Hashash; Michael Dunn; Arthur Barrie; Marc Schwartz; Miguel Regueiro; David G Binion Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 2018-04-30 Impact factor: 3.199