Objective: Skin cancer is common in Australia. It is managed in large portion within general practice, and early excision usually affords cure, therefore, it may form a much greater workload for general practitioners (GPs) than incidence figures would imply. The aim of this study was to describe the skin cancer workload in Australian general practice.
Method: Analysis of data recorded by 495 randomly selected GPs relating to 113,468 consultations (98,796 weighted for State size), which were collected as part of a national descriptive study. Medicare and census data were used to calculate rates at which GPs were consulted for different conditions.
Results: Skin tumours accounted for 2,083 (1.5%) of all 145,799 problems managed in 98,796 encounters. Annual rates at which GPs were consulted were: 13/1,000 people for 'malignant' tumours of the skin; 23/1,000 for 'naevus/mole; and 13/1,000 for 'other benign' lesions. The rates of diagnoses of 'malignant skin neoplasms' increased with age to a maximum among women and men aged 65 years or more of > 80/1,000 and > 100/1,000, respectively. For 'naevus/mole' the rates of maximum diagnoses were 40/1,000 for women and 351/1,000 for men aged 15-24 years. There was no sex difference for the maximal rate (15/1,000) among the 45-64 age groups for 'other benign skin lesions'. The main form of management was procedural for malignant skin lesions (90% of consultations) and naevi/moles (50%). Referral to specialist services was most common during consultations for malignant disease (22% of consultations), in comparison to naevi/moles (15%) and other benign skin neoplasms (9%). Procedures (cryotherapy, diathermy and excision) and referrals were more common for malignant lesions and naevi/moles.
Conclusions: There were important differences in age distribution for rates of management of benign and malignant skin tumours and naevi. Skin tumours usually were managed in conjunction with other problems. Most were managed procedurally. Only a minority were referred. Skin cancer represents a greater workload for Australian GPs than suggested by previous incidence reports.