Health & Fitness - Physicians may not recognize skin cancer

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Physicians may not recognize skin cancer

BOSTON (UPI) -- U.S. researchers report resident physicians are seldom trained in skin cancer examination.

The report, published in the Archives of Dermatology, also states many resident physicians have never observed or practiced skin cancer examination procedure.

The survey of resident physicians in family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and internal medicine, led by Dr. Emily Wise of the Boston University School of Medicine, had a 75.3 percent response rate and was completed by a total of 342 residents.

"During residency, 75.8 percent were never trained in the skin cancer examination, 55.3 percent never observed a skin cancer examination and 57.4 percent never practiced the examination," the study authors say in a statement. "Only 15.9 percent of residents reported being skilled in the skin cancer examination."

The study authors say residency programs and medical schools may be able to teach a comprehensive examination to all physicians in training, but physicians do need enough training to recognize potentially suspicious lesions.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International

This news arrived on: 10/21/2009

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