Patient Education Assignment

Patient Education Project

The purpose of this paper is to develop a plan to teach a specific target group of clients regarding the risk of skin cancer and the impact that skin cancer has on one's health. Included in the discussion will be the assessment of what the patient needs to know, readiness to learn, and educational methods to be used.

Skin Cancer

Skin cancer, which is caused from ultraviolet rays, is extremely prevalent, with over a million cases occurring annually (McGovern, 2006). Approximately 10,000 deaths are expected in the year 2006 alone (Kelly, 2006). Melanoma is predicted to be responsible for 7,910 deaths in the year 2006 (American Cancer Society, 2006). The ultraviolet rays cause damage to the skin that leads to the reproduction of abnormal cells that eventually lead to skin cancer.

Target Group for Education

There are several factors that considerably increase the risk of getting skin cancers. The first to consider is the genetic background. Persons with a fair complexion, blue eyes, blonde or red hair are more susceptible (Nettina, 2001). Another factor to consider is gender; men are two to three times as likely to have skin cancer (American Cancer Society, 2006). Therefore, the target group for education concerning treatment and prevention strategies will be elderly Caucasian men which have had several years of sun exposure. In particular, emphasis should be placed on the population of men whose careers involve working outdoors. Although, the sun's damaging rays are worse in the southern hemisphere, education should be aimed for individuals in all areas. In addition to educating the elderly, teaching the causes of the disease and preventative measures should be addressed to the younger population as well.

Assessment of Patients and Learning Needs

The assessment of a patient provides the clinician an opportunity to combine physical examination with patient directed questions to obtain quality outcomes. According to Jarvis, "The health history is important in beginning to identify the person's health strengths and problems and as a bridge to the next step in data collection, the physical examination" (Jarvis, 2004, p. 52). The first concern of the clinician should be the comfort and well-being of the patient, then development of a plan of care to prioritize and manage problems. The patients participating in the educational session will have a variety of learning styles and needs. Therefore, the information needs to be presented in a simple manner. As Blaustein explains, the basics of learning readiness depend upon a person's basic ability to read, write, and spell (Blaustein, 2005). Creativity should be utilized in preparing learning environments so that the techniques provide a variety of educational opportunities.

Patient Information and Rationale

During the educational session the clinician would want to ask the patient about his or her normal skin color and if the individual performs skin self-examinations. To determine if there has been any changes, patients need to have baseline knowledge of their pre-existing skin condition (Jarvis, 2004). According to Meintel, the most common symptom or sign of skin cancer is a change in the skin's appearance. It's important that the clients are taught to be aware of their skin and any marks, freckles or moles, so they will know if change occurs (Meintel, 2005). Information also needs to be provided to the group regarding tanning salons. Individuals seem to think that tanning salons are a safe alternative to the sun however they use UV rays, which cause the damage (American Cancer Society, 2006). According to the Shade Foundation, "people who use tanning booths are two times as likely to develop skin cancer compared to individuals that have not used tanning booths" (Shade Foundation, 2006). Another topic of instruction will be exposure to environmental or work related chemicals. Chemicals such as arsenic, paraffin and industrial tar are considered to increase the risk of developing skin carcinomas (American Cancer Society, 2006). According to Phelps, "The researchers found about a twofold increased risk of melanoma for participants with elevated toenail arsenic concentrations" (Phelps, 2005, 4). Use of sunscreen should be emphasized especially for those with a family history of skin cancer. According to Tuchman and Weinberg. "In families documented to have hereditary melanoma, individuals can have as much as a 60-90% lifetime risk of developing the disease" (Tuchman & Weinberg, 2005, p. 28). There is an increased risk of developing skin cancer for individuals that have a past medical history that