What is known?
Skin cancer is Australia’s most common and costly cancer. Detection and treatment of skin cancers has rapidly increased over the past decade and continues to grow due to the availability of immunotherapies. While skin checks are associated with early melanoma detection, national population screening is not currently recommended in Australia. Therefore, skin checks are usually carried out at the discretion of individuals. Most skin cancers are managed in primary care settings in Australia, yet we know little about the frequency of general practitioner (GP) visits for different types of skin cancer-related conditions. Understanding how skin cancer-related conditions are managed in general practice is necessary to improve skin cancer management and guide how resources for skin cancer management are distributed in primary care, particularly in regional areas.
What is new?
Using data from the Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) study, this paper examined trends in general practice consultations in across Australia for skin cancer-related conditions from 2000 to 2016. Skin cancer-related conditions accounted for 3% of all problems managed in GP visits. The skin conditions managed were solar keratosis, keratinocyte cancer, other skin lesion, nevi, skin check, benign skin neoplasm and melanoma.
Overall, the rate of visits with a GP for skin cancer-related conditions was highest for those aged 65 to 89 years, males, living in regional, remote, and lower socioeconomic areas, of an English-speaking background, Veteran card holders and non-healthcare card holders.
Over time, management rates for specific conditions either increased or remained stable. The rate of skin conditions managed in general practice was significantly higher in Queensland than in any other state or territory and was lowest in Victoria.
What does this mean?
There is a wide range of skin cancer-related conditions that are managed at a primary care level and differences in these conditions across patient subgroups. These results can guide GP education, policy, and interventions to optimise skin cancer prevention and management.
Contact: Joanne Aitken
Reference: Reyes-Marcelino G, McLoughlin K, Harrison C, Watts CG, Kang YJ, Aranda S, Aitken JF, Guitera P, Cust AE. Skin cancer-related conditions managed in general practice in Australia, 2000-2016: a nationally representative, cross-sectional survey. BMJ Open. 2023 May 4;13(5):e067744. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067744.