Patients receiving reminder phone calls had a higher rate of presentation for TBSE with the results approaching statistical significance (p=0.1233). Patients undergoing MMS who received a reminder phone call were found to have a statistically significant increase in on-time follow up rates as compared to the control group (77% vs 41%; p = .01417).
Clinical Pearls
This study aimed to determine if reminder phone calls following dermatologic surgery for cutaneous malignancies will increase on-time follow up rates for scheduled total body skin examinations
Data from a Veterans Affairs Medical Center in New York City was used, with a prospective intervention group who received reminder phone calls compared to a retrospective control group
Patients receiving reminder phone calls had a higher rate of presentation for TBSE with the results approaching statistical significance (p=0.1233). Patients undergoing MMS who received a reminder phone call were found to have a statistically significant increase in on-time follow up rates as compared to the control group (77% vs 41%; p = .01417)
Discussion:
Following treatment for certain cutaneous malignancies patients are advised to undergo interval screening via a total body skin exam (TBSE). While the amount of time between treatment and screening varies with each skin cancer type, ensuring patients do follow up is crucial for positive long-term outcomes. This study used reminder phone calls prior to each scheduled TBSE to determine if they can increase on-time follow up rates.
All patients who received a standard excision or Mohs micrographic surgery at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center in New York City between July 1, 2021 and November 30, 2021 were identified. Next, the dates of each of these patient’s follow-up TBSE were determined and were called 3-6 weeks prior to their appointment by a resident physician. These patients were thus considered the prospective intervention group. The control group in this study was patients who received surgery for a skin cancer between July 1, 2018 and November 30, 2018.
The intervention group in this study had 49 patients while the control group included 83. In the intervention group, the majority of patients (51%) were treated for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with 43% treated for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and 6% treated for melanoma in situ (MIS). In the control group, 58% were treated for SCC, 35% for BCC, and 7% for MIS. Patients in the intervention group were found to have a higher rate of presentation for TBSE than the control group, with the results approaching statistical significance (p = 0.1233). Additionally, there was a statistically significant increased rate of presentation for TBSE in patients following Mohs micrographic surgery who received a reminder phone call as compared to the control group (77% vs 41%; p = .01417).
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