Early education about skin cancer in immunosuppressed populations
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The role of education in the primary prevention and early detection of skin cancer in pre-transplant and immunosuppressed populations
IRAS ID
122548
Contact name
Abha Gulati
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Barts Health NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 0 months, 3 days
Research summary
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in fair-skinned populations. Immunosuppressed individuals, such as persons with haematological malignancies and those on immunosuppressive medications, such organ transplant recipients (OTR) and inflammatory bowel disease sufferers, are at a greatly increased risk of skin cancer. Current practice is to advise patients on their risks of skin cancer and available measures to protect themselves after the development of skin cancers or after organ transplantation in the case of Organ Transplant Recipients. We propose to explore the potential benefits of educating high-risk immunosuppressed patients on their risk of skin cancer and the benefits of skin surveillance and sun-protection measures before they develop their first skin cancer or while they are on the transplant waiting list. The project will be in two parts. The first involves a survey of immunosuppressed patients and those waiting for a kidney transplant at Barts Health NHS Trust regarding their knowledge and attitudes towards skin cancer and its risk factors. Patients will also undergo a risk-assessment at a routine hospital visit comprising some questions about their skins tendency to burn and number of sun burns and some photographs of sun-exposed sites of skin, such as face and arms. This is normally done in patients for clinical reasons, but the results will also be used in this study to stratify the results of the questionnaire and education study. The second involves randomising some of these patients to receive written information about skin cancer prevention through a leaflet that is currently only given to organ transplant recipients. We then intend to assess their knowledge and attitudes towards skin cancer and its risk factors approximately 6 months to 1year later through another survey.
REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1915
Date of REC Opinion
17 Nov 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion