Skin cancer-related conditions managed in general practice in Australia, 2000–2016 - a nationally representative, cross-sectional survey

Sep 24, 2026

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Examining the frequency of Australian general practice consultations for skin cancer-related conditions, this nationally representative cross-sectional survey uses BEACH study data to assess consultations by patient and general practitioner characteristics and changes across time. The study includes 1,370,826 patient encounters recorded by 15,678 GPs, with 65,411 skin cancer-related condition management events. Management rates and proportions are reported per 1000 encounters and across specific condition categories. Results show higher rates in older, male, and socioeconomically disadvantaged patients and in particular GP subgroups.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Objective

Design and setting

Primary outcome measures

Results

Conclusion

Introduction

Strengths and limitations of this study

Methods

Study design and participation

Open access Original research Skin cancer-related conditions managed in general practice in Australia, 2000– 2016: a nationally representative, crosssectional survey Gillian Reyes-Marcelino ,1,2 Kirstie McLoughlin,1 Christopher Harrison ,3 Caroline G Watts ,1,2,4 Yoon-Jung Kang ,1 Sanchia Aranda,5,6 Joanne F Aitken,7,8 Pascale Guitera ,2,9,10 Anne E Cust 1,2 To cite: Reyes-Marcelino G, McLoughlin K, Harrison C, et al. Skin cancer-related conditions managed in general practice in Australia, 2000–2016: a nationally representative, crosssectional survey. BMJ Open 2023;13:e067744 . doi:10 . 1136/ bmjopen-2022-067744 ► Prepublication history and additional supplemental material for this paper are available online. To view these files, please visit the journal online ([http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/](http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/)[ ](http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/)[bmjopen-2022-067744](bmjopen-2022-067744)) . GR-M and KM are joint first authors. Received 26 August 2022 Accepted 05 April 2023 © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ. For numbered affiliations see end of article. Correspondence to Anne E Cust; [anne.cust@sydney.edu.au](anne.cust@sydney.edu.au) ABSTRACT Objective Skin cancer is Australia’s most common and costly cancer. We examined the frequency of Australian general practice consultations for skin cancer-related conditions, by patient and general practitioner (GP) characteristics and by time period. Design Nationally representative, cross-sectional survey of general practice clinical activity. Setting, participants Patients aged 15 years or older having a skin cancer-related condition managed by GPsin the Bettering the Evaluation And Care of Health study between April 2000 and March 2016. Primary outcome measures Proportions and rates per 1000 encounters. Results In this period, 15 678 GPs recorded 1 370 826 patient encounters, of which skin cancer-related conditions were managed 65 411 times (rate of 47.72 per 1000 encounters, 95% CI 46.41 to 49 .02) . Across the whole period,‘skin conditions’ managed were solar keratosis (29 .87%), keratinocyte cancer (24 .85%), other skin lesion (12 .93%), nevi (10 .98%), skin check (10 .37%), benign skin neoplasm (8 .76%) and melanoma (2 .42%) . Over time, management rates increased for keratinocyte cancers, skin checks, skin lesions, benign skin neoplasms and melanoma; but remained stable for solar keratosesand nevi. Skin cancer-related encounter rates were higher for patients aged 65–89 years, male, living in Queensland or in regional or remote areas, with lower area-based socioeconomic status, of English-speaking background, Veteran card holders and non-healthcare card holders; and for GPs who were aged 35–44 years or male. Conclusion These findings show the spectrum and burden of skin cancer-related conditions managed in general practice in Australia, which can guide GP education, policy and interventions to optimise skin cancer prevention and management. INTRODUCTION Australia’s most common and costly cancers for the health system is skin cancer, which comprises melanoma and keratinocyte cancers (basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)) .1 Internationally, STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS OF THIS STUDY ⇒ This study describes the different skin cancerrelated conditions managed in a large Australian representative sample of general practice encounters. Representativeness of the general practitioner sample was validated at each recruitment period. ⇒ The data collection form allowed for up to four conditions managed in a general practice encounter tobe recorded; these data are not available in administrative data collections. ⇒ A limitation was the cross-sectional nature of the study, as we could not follow patients over time to examine the number of repeated consultations, nor skin cancer outcomes. ⇒ Data were not diagnos

FAQs

What was the study’s main objective regarding skin cancer care in general practice?

To examine how often Australian general practice consultations involved skin cancer-related conditions, and how those frequencies varied by patient and GP characteristics and by time period.

Which dataset and setting were used to measure consultations?

The survey used clinical activity data from the BEACH study, covering general practice activity in Australia from April 2000 to March 2016.

What were the key findings about consultation rates and condition types?

Over the study period, skin cancer-related conditions were managed 65,411 times, with a reported rate of 47.72 per 1000 encounters. Solar keratosis, keratinocyte cancers, and other skin lesions were the most commonly managed categories, while melanoma had the lowest proportion.

What limitations affected the interpretation of the results?

The study was cross-sectional, preventing follow-up of patients over time and limiting assessment of repeated consultations and outcomes; diagnoses were also not diagnostically verified.

Sep 24, 2026

Uploaded by Miles