Incorporating Discussion of Seborrheic Keratoses During Primary Care Visits
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Keywords
Seborrheic Keratosis, primary care, dermatology, quality improvement
Abstract
Seborrheic keratoses are a common benign epidermal neoplasm in the elderly. Primary care physicians caring for adult and geriatric populations will observe them regularly during the physical examinations they perform on their patients. This quality improvement project was developed to determine if primary care physicians could provide additional benefit to their patients during office visits by addressing the concerns they may have about seborrheic keratoses. Data gathered by this project indicates that some patients could benefit from reassurance that their seborrheic keratoses are not skin cancer, or by making dermatology referrals if patient seborrheic keratoses are symptomatic, particularly if they are pruritic or bleeding. In addition, some patients may welcome a referral to a dermatologist who will be able to address any cosmetic concerns related to seborrheic keratoses, especially when they are present in visibly sensitive areas such as the face and hands.
References
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