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Background/Objectives: To compare survival outcomes for patients with cutaneous invasive head and neck melanoma (HNM) with those of patients with melanoma on other anatomical sites. Methods: Retrospective cohort study using patient data extracted from the Cancer Alliance Queensland's Oncology Analysis System (OASYS) over a 10‐year period from 2009 to 2018. Melanoma‐specific survival was compared between patients with HNM and non‐HNM. Kaplan–Meier survival estimates were calculated at 5 and 10 years. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis determined factors associated with survival. Results: The 5‐ and 10‐year survival probabilities were 90.7% and 89.1%, respectively for HNM, compared with 94.7% and 93.0%, respectively, for non‐HNM melanoma. The 5‐ and 10‐year survival probabilities for scalp melanoma were 77.8% and 75.5%, respectively. Patients with HNM died of melanoma at 1.22 times (HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.09–1.37) the rate of those with non‐HNM, controlling for sex, age, socioeconomic status, remoteness, Breslow thickness, the presence of multiple invasion melanoma and ulceration. Patients with scalp melanoma died of melanoma at 1.57 times (HR 1.57, 95% CI 1.26–1.95) the rate of those with non‐scalp HNM. Conclusions: There is a statistically significant survival difference between patients with HNM and non‐HNM, and between patients with scalp melanoma and non‐scalp HNM, even after adjusting for prognostic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: There is limited literature focussing on the demographics of patients presenting to public dermatology outpatient clinics, with an even smaller amount focussing on clinics in regional Australia. This study presents the first patient demographic analysis for the Cairns Hospital's Dermatology Outpatient Department and analyses the cohort of patients who did not attend their appointments. In doing so, it recommends potential strategies that should be considered to address the issues of patient absenteeism and wait times in a regional setting, while also suggesting future data points that should be collected for analysis. Methods: A 4‐year retrospective cohort study using demographic data from all referrals with medical officers (N = 10,333) from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2021 at the Cairns Hospital Dermatology Outpatient Department. The hospital is the only facility with a dermatology service within the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service. Data were extracted from the Cairns Hinterland Analytical Intelligence (CHAI) system. Results: Data pertaining to patient demographics, attendance of appointments, triage categories and wait times were collected and reviewed for patients referred during the study period. Conclusion: The Dermatology Outpatient Department services an ever‐growing and diverse patient cohort. Barriers to access and long wait times exist for patients referred to the Department. Strategies to combat these issues, such as an increase in funding and resourcing, should be considered to better optimise patient care and the utilisation of health resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Literature on dermatology outpatient demographic and clinical data is limited, and the few studies on this topic are mainly conducted overseas, with medical systems and case mix different to Australia. This study presents demographic data relating to dermatology public outpatient referrals to a tertiary hospital in Brisbane, Australia, and determines what additional structured data should be collected to formulate and evaluate initiatives to address service issues such as referral quality, triage process and wait times. Methods: A four‐year retrospective audit was undertaken, summarising all referrals (n = 7140) and clinical dermatology encounters (n = 53 844) between January 2016 and December 2019 at Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH), the largest hospital in Metro South Health (MSH), serving a population of one million. PAH has one of the two largest public dermatology clinics in Queensland and is the only dermatology service within MSH. Results: Patient demographic data, wait time by triage category, referral rates over time and encounter durations were collected. Structured diagnostic data (e.g. ICD‐10 coding) of the provisional diagnosis, comorbidities, medications and the final diagnosis are not collected in a structured format and would be a valuable addition. Conclusions: The clinical burden of public dermatology is increasing. Both collection and analysis of structured data pertaining to the referrals and encounters are important to help formulate, implement and evaluate initiatives that aim to improve health service provision in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]