ASICA Project Pilot Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Using digital technologies to prompt and support self care for melanoma patients: Achieving Self-directed Integrated Cancer Aftercare in rural areas. A pilot study.
IRAS ID
126921
Contact name
Peter Murchie
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Aberdeen
Research summary
This project has the potential to enhance considerably the experience of aftercare delivery for people with melanoma in remote and rural communities. All such patients are at risk of recurrent or a second melanoma and research has indicated that the two years following diagnosis is a particularly anxious time for people with melanoma. Currently, patients in remote and rural communities incur considerable cost in time and money to attend scheduled hospitals follow-up and if anxieties arise in the interval between hospital visits face an anxious wait until concerns are addressed. This pilot study will use digital technology to empower patients to monitor their own skin using an application that will remind them when to do so, how to do it, and how to react if a concern arises. In such situations the ASICA intervention proposes that rapid resolution of anxiety be achieved via (i) telephone advice for a nurse specialist; (ii) the transmission of high quality digital photographs for assessment by a consultant; or (iii) three-way web enabled consultation between a remote specialist and a co-located GP and patient. The consultation will also be further enabled with high definition pictures to permit accurate assessment of worrying new skin lesions by the remotely situated dermatologist. The pilot study will explore the application and integration of different enabling and complementary digital technologies.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
13/NS/0062
Date of REC Opinion
31 May 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion