Educational Initiative for Melanoma

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: NYU Langone Health

Disqualifiers: Under 18, Non-English/Russian speakers, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests an educational program about melanoma, a type of skin cancer, in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. The goal is to determine if learning sessions can help people recognize melanoma signs and improve their skin-check habits. Participants will fill out surveys and attend follow-up visits over a year to track changes in their knowledge and behavior. The study seeks adults who speak English or Russian and live in Bensonhurst. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity to contribute to community health education and potentially enhance personal skin-check habits.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems to focus on education rather than medical treatment, so you likely won't need to change your medications.

What prior data suggests that this educational intervention is safe?

Research has shown that educational sessions about melanoma awareness and prevention are safe and manageable. These sessions pose no physical risk, as they involve learning activities rather than medication or medical procedures.

Studies have found that learning about sun safety can enhance self-protection, reducing melanoma risk. For instance, one study found that 92% of campuses reported improved sun safety habits after implementing education programs. Another study demonstrated that these educational activities can help individuals detect melanoma early and retain the information over time.

In summary, participating in these educational sessions is safe and can lead to positive behavioral changes without negative effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this initiative because it focuses on education as a tool to prevent melanoma, rather than treating it after diagnosis. Traditional methods usually involve surgical removal, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy after melanoma is detected. This educational approach is different because it empowers individuals with knowledge and skills for early detection through skin self-examinations. By potentially increasing awareness and proactive health behaviors, this initiative could reduce melanoma occurrence and improve early detection rates, ultimately leading to better outcomes.

What evidence suggests that this educational intervention is effective for increasing melanoma awareness and self-examination behaviors?

Research has shown that educational sessions can greatly improve knowledge and skills related to skin cancer. In this trial, participants will engage in sessions designed to enhance their ability to spot signs of melanoma and apply their learning. Studies have found that active participation in learning improves the ability to identify potential skin issues. Additionally, short educational programs tailored to cultural and language needs have raised skin cancer awareness. Participants in these studies often feel more confident in recognizing skin cancer risk factors after these sessions. Overall, education serves as a powerful tool for increasing awareness and improving early detection skills. ^{3 5 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

David Polsky, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator

NYU Langone Health

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals in the Bensonhurst, Brooklyn community interested in learning about melanoma and other skin cancers. Participants will be involved in an educational program to increase their knowledge and awareness.

Inclusion Criteria

I am over 18 years old.

I can understand and speak English or Russian.

I am willing and able to give consent and participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria

Individuals who participated in the focus group portion of a related study.

I am under 18 years old.

I understand and speak English or Russian.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

Educational Intervention

Participants complete a pre-study survey and take part in an educational session conducted in-person by a community-health worker

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Follow-up visits to assess the impact of the intervention on participant knowledge and skin self-examination behaviors

12 months

4 visits (in-person) at 3 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months

Post-study Survey

Participants complete a post-study survey to assess changes in melanoma knowledge and self-skin examination behaviors

1 day

1 visit (in-person) at 12 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Education Sessions

Trial Overview The study tests a community-based education session on melanoma conducted by a health worker. It includes pre-study and post-study surveys with follow-ups at various intervals to measure its impact on participants' understanding and self-examination practices.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Adults from Bensonhurst County in Brooklyn, New York Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will complete a pre-study survey and then take part in the educational session; follow-up visits to assess the impact of the intervention on participant knowledge and skin self-examination behaviors at will be held at 3 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Participants will also complete a post-study survey at Month 12.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

NYU Langone Health

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,431

Recruited

838,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9202989/

Skin Cancer Education Interventions for Primary Care ... While several interventions demonstrated improvements in skin cancer knowledge and competency by written exams, only a few revealed positive ...

2. dermatologytimes.com dermatologytimes.com/view/active-education-outperforms-passive-approaches-in-melanoma-detection-by-non-medical-individuals

Active Education Outperforms Passive Approaches in ... A study shows active educational interventions improve melanoma detection rates and rule application, with lasting effects over time.

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10366018/

A Systematic Review of Evidence-Based High School ... Data suggest that high school educational programs on skin cancer prevention can be successful and should incorporate evidence-based ...

4. cureus.com cureus.com/articles/312181-evaluating-the-impact-of-a-virtual-skin-cancer-awareness-workshop-for-16-19-year-olds

Evaluating the Impact of a Virtual Skin Cancer Awareness ... Before the intervention, participants reported an average confidence score of 4.07 in understanding skin cancer risk factors, which ...

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1555415524002848

Improving Skin Cancer Knowledge and Screening Among ... A 5- to 10-minute culturally and linguistically tailored education program can significantly increase skin cancer knowledge.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10189064/

Educational level-dependent melanoma awareness in a ... We observed a significant trend toward using a higher sun protection factor (SPF) in melanoma patients compared with at-risk patients.

7. ascopubs.org ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.e22613

Promoting sun safety and melanoma prevention in the ... Furthermore, 92% of campuses reported a positive change in sun safety behaviors after implementing the district-wide sun safety plan. The City ...

8. jaadreviews.org jaadreviews.org/article/S2950-1989(24)00029-1/fulltext

Community and school-based dermatology education ... This scoping review aims to fill the gap in the literature by examining medical student–led dermatology education and curriculum delivery for the community.