Author Interviews, Cost of Health Care, Journal Clinical Oncology, Melanoma / 13.10.2016
Specialized Surveillance Clinic For Patients At High Risk of Melanoma Reduced Procedures and Costs
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Caroline Watts| Research Fellow
Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research
Sydney School of Public Health
The University of Sydney
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: A clinic for people at high risk of melanoma was established at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney in 2006 as part of a research project to look at the impact of surveillance regime which included regular full body skin examination supported by dermoscopy and total body photography at 6 monthly intervals. If a suspicious lesion was identified, the lesion was either removed or an image of the lesion was captured using digital dermoscopy and the patient returned in 3 months for review.
This study aimed to estimate the costs and benefits from a health system perspective associated with specialised surveillance compared with current routine care high risk people would receive in the community. (more…)