Les médecins généralistes et la détection précoce des cancers de la peau.

Introduction: One of the goals of the French Cancer Plan 2009-2013 is to strengthen the role of the general practitioner at each stage of the patient's care. As part of its mission in informing health professionals on prevention, the French National Cancer Institute, INCa, implements a barometric survey to better assess the knowledge and practices of GPs on the early detection of skin cancer. Method: This survey was achieved in two steps, in October 2009 and 2011, by phoning a sample of 600 representative GPs, constructed according to the quota method. Results: A large majority of the GPs believe they have the necessary knowledge on the prevention and early detection of these cancers (81%) and thus feel comfortable answering questions from patients (87%). However a further analysis reveals that they consider their knowledge to be in need of upgrading. They express a strong demand for information and training. In terms of practice, if the examination of the patient's skin is usual, it is not always fully carried out by the GP. Self-examination for patients identified at risk is not systematically demonstrated (57%). GPs are especially attentive to the color (83%) or the evolution of a nevus (60%), less to other elements of the ABCDE rule. In case of doubt, when noticing a suspicious skin lesion, the GP addresses his patient to the dermatologist (96%). The care management of patients, as established by the French National Health Insurance, was well accepted and did not change the GPs' practices. Conclusions: The results of the 2009 survey are comparable with those of 2011. Current actions, carried out in partnership with GPs on this topic, would benefit from a reinforcement of concerted information actions and continuing education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]