MELACARE Nurse-led follow-up after early-stage melanoma: protocol and feasibility

Background and purpose: We developed the Melacare nurse-led intervention, which combines education in skin self-examination as a resource-conscious approach to detecting recurrence and management of fear of cancer recurrence in patients treated for melanoma. This publication presents the Melacare st...

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Main Authors: Sara M. Hansen, Christoffer Johansen, Magnus P.B. Obinah, Nadine A. Kasparian, Peter Genter, Pernille E. Bidstrup, Lisbet R. Hölmich
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Medical Journals Sweden 2024-11-01
Series:Acta Oncologica
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Online Access:https://medicaljournalssweden.se/actaoncologica/article/view/41037
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author Sara M. Hansen
Christoffer Johansen
Magnus P.B. Obinah
Nadine A. Kasparian
Peter Genter
Pernille E. Bidstrup
Lisbet R. Hölmich
author_facet Sara M. Hansen
Christoffer Johansen
Magnus P.B. Obinah
Nadine A. Kasparian
Peter Genter
Pernille E. Bidstrup
Lisbet R. Hölmich
author_sort Sara M. Hansen
collection DOAJ
description Background and purpose: We developed the Melacare nurse-led intervention, which combines education in skin self-examination as a resource-conscious approach to detecting recurrence and management of fear of cancer recurrence in patients treated for melanoma. This publication presents the Melacare study protocol and evaluates the feasibility and acceptability of Melacare prior to a larger randomised controlled trial. Material and methods: Feasibility and acceptability of Melacare were evaluated in an intervention-only feasibility study, in which patients attended two nurse-led intervention sessions coupled with an educational booklet. Participants completed patient-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaires at baseline and before each session. After the intervention, participants completed a study-specific feedback questionnaire. Feasibility was evaluated in terms of recruitment, adherence, and attendance. Self-reported outcomes from the study-specific questionnaire on intervention effects were also collected. Results of the feasibility study: Fourteen patients (nine stage IA, five stage IB melanoma) participated. Attendance and recruitment rates were 100%, all participants completed the baseline and PRO questionnaires, and 100% read at least half of the educational booklet. In terms of intervention effects, all patients reported improved knowledge of performing skin self-examination and coping with the fear of cancer recurrence. Interpretation: Results indicate that the Melacare nurse-led intervention is highly feasible and acceptable for use with patients treated for early-stage melanoma. Prior to clinical trial commencement, minor refinements include changing the method of recruiting by telephone and offering
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spelling doaj-art-6be8e00eb7f34772b8fd6e8874c68b2b2024-11-25T05:59:08ZengMedical Journals SwedenActa Oncologica1651-226X2024-11-0163110.2340/1651-226X.2024.41037MELACARE Nurse-led follow-up after early-stage melanoma: protocol and feasibilitySara M. Hansen0https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0230-3978Christoffer Johansen1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4384-206XMagnus P.B. Obinah2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4817-9834Nadine A. Kasparian3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8075-6817Peter Genter4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5116-4510Pernille E. Bidstrup5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9704-6800Lisbet R. Hölmich6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1983-5222Department of Plastic Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, DenmarkDepartment of Oncology, Cancer Survivorship and Late Effects Research Center (CASTLE), Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, DenmarkCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Department of Pediatrics, Heart and Mind Wellbeing Center, Heart Institute and Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United StatesCenter for Mental Health, Copenhagen, DenmarkPsychological Aspects of Cancer, Danish Cancer Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark; fInstitute of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev and Gentofte, Herlev, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DenmarkBackground and purpose: We developed the Melacare nurse-led intervention, which combines education in skin self-examination as a resource-conscious approach to detecting recurrence and management of fear of cancer recurrence in patients treated for melanoma. This publication presents the Melacare study protocol and evaluates the feasibility and acceptability of Melacare prior to a larger randomised controlled trial. Material and methods: Feasibility and acceptability of Melacare were evaluated in an intervention-only feasibility study, in which patients attended two nurse-led intervention sessions coupled with an educational booklet. Participants completed patient-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaires at baseline and before each session. After the intervention, participants completed a study-specific feedback questionnaire. Feasibility was evaluated in terms of recruitment, adherence, and attendance. Self-reported outcomes from the study-specific questionnaire on intervention effects were also collected. Results of the feasibility study: Fourteen patients (nine stage IA, five stage IB melanoma) participated. Attendance and recruitment rates were 100%, all participants completed the baseline and PRO questionnaires, and 100% read at least half of the educational booklet. In terms of intervention effects, all patients reported improved knowledge of performing skin self-examination and coping with the fear of cancer recurrence. Interpretation: Results indicate that the Melacare nurse-led intervention is highly feasible and acceptable for use with patients treated for early-stage melanoma. Prior to clinical trial commencement, minor refinements include changing the method of recruiting by telephone and offering https://medicaljournalssweden.se/actaoncologica/article/view/41037CancerFear of cancer recurrenceskin self-examinationpatient-reported outcomerandomised controlled trialintervention
spellingShingle Sara M. Hansen
Christoffer Johansen
Magnus P.B. Obinah
Nadine A. Kasparian
Peter Genter
Pernille E. Bidstrup
Lisbet R. Hölmich
MELACARE Nurse-led follow-up after early-stage melanoma: protocol and feasibility
Acta Oncologica
Cancer
Fear of cancer recurrence
skin self-examination
patient-reported outcome
randomised controlled trial
intervention
title MELACARE Nurse-led follow-up after early-stage melanoma: protocol and feasibility
title_full MELACARE Nurse-led follow-up after early-stage melanoma: protocol and feasibility
title_fullStr MELACARE Nurse-led follow-up after early-stage melanoma: protocol and feasibility
title_full_unstemmed MELACARE Nurse-led follow-up after early-stage melanoma: protocol and feasibility
title_short MELACARE Nurse-led follow-up after early-stage melanoma: protocol and feasibility
title_sort melacare nurse led follow up after early stage melanoma protocol and feasibility
topic Cancer
Fear of cancer recurrence
skin self-examination
patient-reported outcome
randomised controlled trial
intervention
url https://medicaljournalssweden.se/actaoncologica/article/view/41037
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