The Importance of Prevention and Early Detection of Malignant Melanoma

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Institution

The Importance of Prevention and Early Detection of Malignant Melanoma

Currency: The Timeliness of the Information

The information was published in October 2000 and has not been revised as there is no number of editions or date last edited. The information is out of date as it was published in 2000 and has not been reviewed since. The prevalence of melanoma is different from how it was over sixteen years ago. However, not much research has been done in this area. The variables of this study are based on the year 2000 and before. Millions of Americans will be affected by malignant melanoma with an increase 7% per year (Acevedo-Ramirez, Graber, LaSala, Weidenheim, & Garg, 2015). This shows the need for studying this health problem to the present day. The journal has no links or email linking the source to other sources or to the author.

Relevance: The Importance of the Information for Your Needs

The information in this journal article is relevant and relates to my profession. Malignant melanoma is a serious condition that causes a lot of deaths yet it is preventable. It is of public health importance and is preventable through simple methods (Acevedo-Ramirez, Graber, LaSala, Weidenheim, & Garg, 2015). Prevention is better than cure, and early detection of the condition increases the chances of cure but when it develops to second and third cancer stages, management, especially cure, is almost impossible and expensive. 

The intended audience in the article comprises of pediatricians, state agencies, school children, parents, researchers, and all who assess the journal. The paper is designed to provide important prevention and early detection methods of melanoma. Treatment is provided in the form of sunscreens to be used by school children, nurses and visitors coming to the county through water (Harris, 2000).

The information level is appropriate. The language level is neither too simple nor too hard. It has given detailed and enough information of the problem although a lot of information on the problem is missing. Preventive measures have been elaborated indicating the importance of early detection. Although the information is useful, some parts are more generalized and would require more information. The article should have illustrated basic symptoms of melanoma and ways of distinguishing it from other diseases.

The paper will be a baseline for other research papers. I would be comfortable to use this paper in research in combination with others. Malignant melanoma is a wide health topic and a lot of information is missing in this paper. The report is outdated and would just be useful for information before 2000. However, it would be useful in measuring the changes that have occurred in the management of malignant melanoma.

 In recent years, global warming has led to climatic changes in the world and the greenhouse effect has increased atmospheric temperature (Acevedo-Ramirez, Graber, LaSala, Weidenheim, & Garg, 2015). This information is not in the report and thus the figures and information cannot be used today as data and prevalence has changed. The paper does not contain comprehensive information of the problem. There are no links or email addresses of the author. However, the research paper contains the author’s name and his qualifications. The research is not specific on the independent and dependent variables. It is not specific on the time to be spent on the task.

Authority: The Source of the Information

The author of the research material is Janice Harris, MSN, RN, inpatient dermatologist in Washington hospital center in Washington DC. Harris has a master in nursing education (MSN) and is a registered nursing officer (RN). Her specialty is dermatology and she is an inpatient dermatologist in Washington hospital center. The author is a nurse officer dermatologist specialist working in the inpatient department of a busy hospital (Harris, 2000). This exposure has given her first-hand information on the problem.

There is no contact information about the author. The article gives the topic and the publishing year with no email. However, since this is a journal article, it is possible to get this information from the insiders of this journal. This is a journal article that was initially provided in print. It can be found on academic library databases. It, however, does not have a URL that can be used or tracked back to the author.

Accuracy: The Reliability, Truthfulness, and Correctness of the Content

Harris supported her information with evidence from previous works and the literature review. For example, the incidence of malignant melanoma supposed to affect millions of Americans by 2000 with 7% yearly increase is borrowed from the Skin Cancer Foundation article written in 1992 (Harris, 2000). This being a peer-reviewed journal, it is indisputable that the article was reviewed by others before getting published on the journal. The source is backed up by a set of references that are published at the end of the article. The information provided on this article is, therefore, verifiable by using the set of references provided. The tone and the language in the paper are free from emotion and are unbiased. The author has balanced her paper with no indication of biasness. The information can be used by any ethnic group, from any culture or race. The paper is grammatically correct with no grammar, spelling, sentence construction, or typographical errors. The essay construction has conformed to essay writing styles and format requirements.

Purpose: The Reason the Information Exists

The information in this article is important in ways to promote prevention and early detection of malignant melanoma. Nurses and other health practitioners can use the information in formulating preventive and control measures. The information illustrates that prevention is every person’s responsibility as almost everyone is at risk due to sun exposure. According to Harris (2000), when detected early, melanoma is treatable while its prevention will reduce the cases of the disease. The majority of people have less or no information on the condition and thus the article is a good source of this information.

Through her work, Harris’ purpose of stressing the importance of prevention is clear. She explains the importance of prevention and the advantages of early detection which is treatable. The author has gone an extra mile by providing her respondents with preventive items (sunscreen substances) which is rare in many researches. This method will trigger many people to use the substances while it still promoting prevention in a secondary form. The information is backed up by other trusted researches and can thus be termed as factual. It is a fact that increased rates of melanoma and other untreatable cancer conditions are a concerning cause of death. Prevention remains the one best method of controlling melanoma or any other conditions as the old saying states, ‘’prevention is better than cure’’

The authors’ point of view regarding melanoma is impartial. Melanoma is one of the conditions known by few, and is ignored and detected late. Sunburns are noticed by many but not related to the melanoma risk or a condition requiring intervention (Harris, 2000). There are few specialists in dermatology thus delaying detection and the treatment cost, mostly surgery is expensive (Acevedo-Ramirez, Graber, LaSala, Weidenheim, & Garg, 2015). The article is free from personal biasness, political influence, and ideological, cultural, or religious intervention. This serves as a representation of the county. However, the article is based only on one county and this will limit information on the dermatology condition.

Problem Recognition/Statement

The burning question in this article is how skin cancer can be prevented and detected early. Skin cancer affects individuals due to exposure of high or excessive UV rays affecting almost every person but prevalent among people aged under 55 years.

PICOT Components

P (Population)

The number of subjects recruited in the study will include; 85 School health nurses in Anne Arundel County and 80 pediatricians in the county. The research also includes 36,500 school children from the county together with sunscreen products given to visitors in the county using boats (Harris, 2000).

I (Intervention, Independent Variable)

The subjects enrolled in this study were given a manual with information on the prevention, detection, and other important information on the condition. Sunscreen products will be given to all participants with demonstration on application and importance (Harris, 2000)

C (Comparison, Control Group or Current Practice)

The control group includes people who are not at risk of melanoma. This includes people with little exposure to sun rays.

O (Outcomes, Independent Variable)

The outcome is chances of contacting melanoma for groups at risk. Individuals exposed to sun rays for longer period, those with freckles, and those with tanned skins among others (Harris, 2000) are observed.

T (Time or Duration of Implementation)

The article illustrates a continuous research where prevention is to be carried out in the day to day life of a nurse. The author has not specified the exact time due to the different programs and activities carried at different geographical areas.

Research Question

How will nurses educate school children and visitors on promoting prevention and early melanoma detection compared to those not at risk in a continuous assessment?

References

Acevedo-Ramirez, N., Graber, J., LaSala, P., Weidenheim, K., & Garg, M. (2015). Primary Pineal Malignant Melanoma treated with Radiotherapy and associated with loss of BAP1: A Case Report (P4. 228). Neurology, 84(14 Supplement), P4-228.

Harris J. (2000). Disease Management. A Plan to Promote the Prevention and Early Detection of Melanoma. Dermatology Nursing. 12(05). 329-333