Efficacy of an educational intervention with kidney transplant recipients to promote skin self-examination for squamous cell carcinoma detection

Objectives: To develop easily disseminated educational materials that enable early detection of skin cancer, and to examine the effectiveness of the materials to promote skin self-examination (SSE) among kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Design: Randomized controlled trial of an educational intervention in comparison with a group that received only the assessment, education, and treatment as part of usual care with a nephrologist. Setting: Academic ambulatory nephrology practice. Patients: Seventy-five KTRs returning for routine care to their nephrologists 1 to 1.2 years or 3 to 7 years after transplantation. Intervention: Educational workbook. Main Outcome Measures: Skin self-examination performance and new appointments with a dermatologist if a concerning skin lesion was found. Results: Twenty-two percent of those in the control group checked their skin after the visit compared with 89% of the treatment condition; thus, KTRs receiving the intervention were significantly more likely to have checked their skin (χ2; P<.001). Among the 8 control KTRs who checked their skin, none found areas of concern. Of the 34 intervention KTRs who checked their skin, 12 participants (35%) found areas of concern. All 12 of these individuals made appointments with a dermatologist for follow-up. Conclusions: The KTRs were receptive to performing SSE and acted on the recommendation made in the workbook to make an appointment with a dermatologist when a concerning lesion was discovered. Printed educational materials can be initiated in the tertiary care center 1 year after transplantation and used across a continuum of time during which KTRs may be transferred from the tertiary care center to community nephrologists. Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01127737