Improving Melanoma Screening in Primary Care: The Experience of the Association of French General Practitioners Practicing Dermoscopy.

Abstract

Background: Melanoma constitutes an increasing global health burden. In the light of a growing shortage of dermatologists in several countries, primary care has emerged as an optimal setting for skin cancer screening. Historically, skin cancer detection in France was typically managed by dermatologists, while general practitioners (GPs) were barely involved. In 2021, the Association of French GPs Practicing Dermoscopy was created to address this gap by promoting and legitimizing dermoscopy practice among primary care physicians.

Objectives: To assess the number of melanomas detected by dermoscopy-trained GPs three years after the association's foundation and to compare the melanomas' histopathological characteristics to those documented in the existing literature.

Methods: A survey was shared via Google^® Forms with all the members of the association's Facebook ^® account between 26 November 2024 and 26 December 2024.

Results: A total of 85 general practitioners responded to the survey. They reported the detection of 266 melanomas, corresponding to a median of approximately 1.6 per year of dermoscopy practice (mean: 2.9). Of the detected melanomas, 39.5% (105/266) were in situ, while only 22.4% (36/161) had a Breslow thickness above 1 mm, which constitutes a substantial improvement compared to previously reported data on GP-detected melanomas.

Conclusions: Empowerment of primary care medicine through dermoscopy learning appears to be a promising way to overcome the relative shortage of diagnostic offer observed in several countries. Integrating skin cancer screening into a GP's practice may contribute to early melanoma detection and support ongoing efforts to lower melanoma mortality.