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Certificate in Primary Care – Skin Cancer Management

Overview

This certificate course has been developed through a new education partnership with the Australasian College of Dermatologists.

The certificate course consists of 4 online modules delivered through gplearning^{^}, one face to face workshop (Friday night and full days Saturday and Sunday) and a clinical attachment of 12 sessions of 3-4 hours in length in an approved dermatology setting with dermatologist supervision and guidance.

All course segments must be successfully completed to achieve the certificate.

Modules 1 to 4 of the online component MUST be completed prior to the workshop and clinical attachment elements.

The RACGP QA&CPD Program has approved this Higher Education Course for 60 Category 1 points for the 2008-2010 triennium.

Key references^* for this certificate course are:

• Skin disease diagnosis and treatment by Thomas Habif. Publisher Elsevier Mosby.
• Surgery of the skin procedural dermatology by June Robinson. Publisher Elsevier Mosby.

Course content

Module 1 – Premalignant and Malignant non melanoma skin cancer

• Basal cell carcinoma
• Actinic keratoses and actinic porokeratoses
• Bowens disease
• Actinic chelilitis and squamous cell carcinoma of the lip
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Keratoacanthoma
• Paget’s diseases of breast and Extramammary Paget’s diseases
• Cutaneous T Cell lymphoma
• Other cutaneous lymphomas and lymphoma like diseases
• Cutaneous metastasis

Module 2 – Naevi and Malignant melanoma

• Epidemiology, aetiology and clinical diagnosis of melanoma and benign melanocytic lesions
• Melanoma risk assessment
• Management of the high risk patient
• Melanoma management
• Dermoscopy

Module 3 – Benign skin tumours

• Seborrhoeic keratoses
• Skin tags
• Dermatofibromas
• Keloids and hypertrophic scars
• Naevus sebaceous
• Chondrodermatitis nodularis helicis
• Epidermoid cysts
• Pilar cysts
• Sebaceous hyperplasia
• Syringoma

Module 4 – Practical procedures in dermatology

• Cryotherapy
• Intralesional cortisone
• Local anaesthesia
• Biopsy techniques (Punch, shave, curette and incision)
• Curettage and cautery
• Surgical anatomy and danger zones
• Sutures and Suturing
• Elliptical excisions
• Full thickness skin grafts
• Split thickness skin grafts
• Principles of flap repairs
• Regional approach to closures
• Surgical dressings
• Surgical complications and treatments
• Non surgical treatments of skin cancer

Module 5 – Dermatological surgery workshop – face to face

• Dermoscopy
• Cryotherapy
• Local anaesthesia
• Biopsy techniques
• Electrodessication and curettage
• Procedure room set up
• Surgical anatomy
• Elliptical excision surgery
• Sutures and suturing
• Biopsies and suturing techniques – practical using pigs bellies
• Advancement flaps
• Rotation flaps
• Transposition flaps
• Island pedicle flaps and myocutaneous flaps
• Flaps – practical using pigs bellies
• Dermoscopy
• Full thickness skin grafts
• Split thickness skin grafts
• Surgical risk management and surgical complications
• Non surgical management of skin cancer
• Intralesional steroids
• Closure options by anatomical site
• Open forum
• Interactive – which closure option should I use here?

Module 6 – Clinical attachment

• 12 sessions of 3-4 hours in length, in an approved dermatology setting

Pre-reading, case study/image submission activities and satisfactory completion of assessment activities are requirements for the online modules 1 to 4.

Separate requirements relate to modules 5 and 6. Further information regarding these requirements will be given out at the time of commencement of these segments.

Important notes

This course is open to any registered medical practitioner who is able to complete the course requirements and attend the workshop and clinical attachments.

^{^}this certificate (including online modules, workshop and clinical attachment) is not included as part of the RACGP membership package. Accommodation, travel etc. is at participants own cost.

^*references are to be purchased by participants at own cost.

Publication Date: 10 December 2007