Improving the quality of information dermatologists receive from primary care: a multidisciplinary educational outreach

ISRCTN	ISRCTN29111144
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN29111144
Protocol serial number	N0530128900
Sponsor	Department of Health
Funder	North Central London Research Consortium (UK)

Submission date: 30/09/2004
Registration date: 30/09/2004
Last edited: 18/07/2016

Recruitment status: No longer recruiting
Overall study status: Completed
Condition category: Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

Prospectively registered

Protocol

Statistical analysis plan

Results

Individual participant data

Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Dr Deborah Kirklin
Scientific

Royal Free and University College Medical School
Centre for Medical Humanities, Archway Campus
2nd Floor Holborn Union Building
2-10 Highgate Hill
London
N19 5LW
United Kingdom

Phone	+44 (0)20 7288 3467/3597
Email	d.Kirklin@pcps.ucl.ac.uk

Study information

Primary study design	Interventional
Study design	Practice level-randomised controlled trial
Secondary study design	Randomised controlled trial
Study type	Participant information sheet
Scientific title	Improving the quality of information dermatologists receive from primary care: a multidisciplinary educational outreach
Study objectives	This study will investigate whether General Practitioners and Primary Care Nurses who take part in a multidisciplinary educational outreach intervention, designed to foster observational skills, display an increased accuracy of identification of diagnostic features in images of pigmented skin lesions. It will assess the feasibility of delivering such an intervention in primary care. Any improvement in observational skills would have direct implications for the quality of information received by dermatologists from primary care, with the potential to allow for improved prioritisation of out-patient appointments, and shorter waiting times for patients with potentially cancerous skin lesions.
Ethics approval(s)	Not provided at time of registration
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Dermatologist training; developing observational skills
Intervention	12 practices will be randomised to either: 1. Intervention group (educational outreach) 2. Control group
Intervention type	Other
Primary outcome measure(s)	This pilot project, based in primary care, addresses the national priority of Cancer Service Provision, and focuses on the importance of the flow of good information from primary care to secondary care, when referrals of suspicious skin lesions are made. Whilst this study focuses on one area of clinical practice - dermatology referrals from primary to secondary care, it is anticipated that any improvements in observational skills would have widespread implications for clinical practice. It is anticipated that the clinical area of concern of this work be broadened in further studies.
Key secondary outcome measure(s)	Not provided at time of registration
Completion date	12/02/2004

Eligibility

Participant type(s)	Health professional
Age group	Adult
Sex	All
Target sample size at registration	12
Key inclusion criteria	12 General Practices in Camden, Islington, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey
Key exclusion criteria	Does not meet inclusion criteria
Date of first enrolment	13/02/2003
Date of final enrolment	12/02/2004

Locations

Countries of recruitment

United Kingdom
England

Study participating centre

Royal Free and University College Medical School

London
N19 5LW
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	No
IPD sharing plan summary	Not provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type	Details	Date created	Date added	Peer reviewed?	Patient-facing?
Participant information sheet	Participant information sheet	11/11/2025	11/11/2025	No	Yes

Editorial Notes

18/07/2016: No publications found, verifying study status with principal investigator.