Digital vs. Printed Photographs: Impact on Skin Self-Examinations

Evaluation of the Impact of Using Digital Photographs on a Mobile Device Versus Printed Photographs on Patient Conducted Skin Exams

The primary aim is to determine the impact of using digital photographs on a mobile device versus printed photographs on skin self-examination rates. The ease-of-use and overall satisfaction with the two exam modalities will be evaluated. Secondarily, the impact on melanoma thickness at detection, melanoma detection, biopsy, and office visit rates will be evaluated. The study involves patients in the Pigmented Lesion Clinic that have received total body photography for skin monitoring.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients presenting to the Penn Dermatology Pigmented Lesion Clinic who have a mobile device for personal use that either:
• (1) already have total body photography images, have a compact disc (CD) of digital versions of these images, and who do NOT already conduct proper monthly skin exams at home, and
• (2) patients that are having new images taken

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients that are children or adolescents
• Patients that are court-ordered to attend residential alcohol or other drug treatment facilities and therefore considered prisoners
• Patients that are incompetent to provide informed consent and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) authorization