Skin cancer screening by Australian family physicians: variation with physician beliefs and geographic locality.

INTRODUCTION

Australian national policies do not recommend skin cancer screening. We measured family physicians' beliefs, self-reported practices, and predictors of using clinical skin examination for skin cancer screening.

METHOD

Random self-administered postal survey of 1271 Australian family physicians (FPs) performed during 1996, obtaining 855 completed questionnaires (67% response rate).

RESULTS

Eighty-six percent of FPs surveyed indicated that they thought clinical skin examination was effective in reducing premature death from skin cancer; 72% indicated that they should be performed annually; and 60% indicated that all adults should be screened. Only 3% indicated correctly that screening has not been tested to determine its effectiveness. Although most FPs were unlikely to adopt an opportunistic approach to screening, 64% indicated that they would recommend clinical skin examination during a health check-up. FPs in northern (high incidence) latitudes were 3 to 4 times more likely to adopt opportunistic screening, and twice as likely to discuss clinical skin examination in a dedicated check-up. FPs were more likely to advocate screening in male rather than female patients. Half of respondents were unaware of relevant guidelines.

CONCLUSION

Although Australian policies do not recommend clinical skin examination because of insufficient evidence as yet of effectiveness, FPs show considerable support for screening. Geographic location, patient gender, and physician beliefs predict the self-reported provision of clinical skin examination by family physicians, suggesting that factors other than published guidelines affect clinical practice.