Introduction: Skin cancer is the most diagnosed form of cancer in Australia, and sadly, 1,400 Australians die each year from melanoma. People living in regional and rural areas of Australia have higher rates of skin cancer than those in metropolitan areas, complicated further by challenges in accessing primary healthcare. Nurses, as the largest distributed healthcare workforce in regional Australia, are well positioned to perform skin checks. There are approximately 2.5 million people aged over 50 years living in regional Australia, and to receive an annual skin check, 600 full-time equivalent primary care nurses will need to be upskilled to meet this demand.
Body: As an innovative solution to addressing current disparities and saving lives through accessibility, a targeted nurse-led model of care has been piloted to detect skin cancer in regional and rural areas of South Australia (SA). Primary care nurses working in regional SA are University-educated and trained in skin checks using best practice dermoscopy. They also gain essential practical experience at a ‘pop-up’ clinic at a large regional community event where consumers receive a free skin check. When suspicious lesions are detected, dermoscopic images are uploaded to artificial intelligence software to facilitate clinical decision making and nurse learning. Consumers are advised to seek follow-up medical care if a suspicious lesion is identified and receive education on skin cancer prevention. Nurses report increased confidence and skill in performing skin checks and General Practitioners are supportive of the model. Consumers express high levels of satisfaction and willingness to use the service again.
Conclusions: A nurse-led model of care can address current inequities in skin cancer screening for those living in regional and rural SA. Expanding this initiative across Australia and building national capacity are necessary to increase early detection of skin cancer, therefore improving health outcomes for all Australians.