The Influence of an E-learning Program on Recognition of Actinic Keratosis

The Influence of an E-learning Program on Recognition of Actinic Keratosis by General Practitioners). Implementation of Actinic Keratosis Guidelines Among General Practitioners.

The evaluation on the diagnostic accuracy of actinic keratosis recognition by general practitioners before and after participation on an e-learning program.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Actinic Keratoses; Dermatology; E-learning
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: e-learning program

Detailed Description

Actinic keratosis is defined as the most frequent common intra-epithelial neoplasm in the Caucasian population, with an increasing prevalence. If left untreated, actinic keratosis has the potency to develop into a cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma. Treatment of actinic keratosis is aimed at both lesion reduction and to prevent malignant transformation. To achieve treatment adherence for patients, it is necessary to raise physician awareness about actinic keratosis.

This study primarily aimed to investigate whether the sensitivity of establishing a correct actinic keratosis diagnosis by general practitioners (in training) would increase after participating in an e-learning program about the recognition of actinic keratosis. This was achieved by comparing the results of a pre- and post-test completed by general practitioners which was incorporated in the e-learning program.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 32

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Netherlands
  • Maastricht, Netherlands
    • Ellen Oyen

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Data from general practitioners who

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• general practitioner in the Netherlands
• access to e-learning module via phone/computer/tablet
• knowledge of the Dutch language

Exclusion Criteria:

• no knowledge of the Dutch language
• different specialists than general practitioner

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
General practitioners; All participants were general practitioners (in training).	Other: e-learning program; All participants participate in this intervention: an e-learning program about the recognition of actinic keratosis. The program exists of 30 cases. Each case exists of a question and thorough explanation including references to various sources.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Difference in sensitivity	Difference in sensitivity of participants in the recognition of actinic keratosis, before and after the use of an e-learning program (paired).	Measurement by baseline and after finalising the e-learning program (same day up until 30 days)
Difference in specificity	Difference in specificity of participants in the recognition of actinic keratosis, before and after the use of an e-learning program (paired).	Measurement by baseline and after finalising the e-learning program (same day up until 30 days)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Difference in area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve	Difference in area under the curve of participants in the recognition of actinic keratosis, before and after the use of an e-learning program.	Measurement by baseline and after finalising the e-learning program (same day up until 30 days)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Maastricht University Medical Center
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Klara Mosterd, prof.dr., Maastricht UMC+

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 1, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 20, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 3, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): August 14, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 4, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 2, 2025
• Last Verified: April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms; Skin Diseases; Precancerous Conditions; Keratosis, Actinic; Keratosis
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2020-1334

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No