Personalised Risk Scores for Melanoma Management (PRiSMM)

About melanoma risk:

There are many factors that contribute to a person’s chances of having melanoma, including genetics, clinical characteristics, and lifestyle factors. We can now estimate a person’s chances of having melanoma by combining all the known risk factors for the condition. This is called personalised risk. Using personalised risk, we can find people with an increased chance of melanoma and discuss appropriate surveillance and screening.

Personalised Risk Scores for Melanoma Management (PRiSMM)

This research is a sub-study of the Australian Centre for Excellence in Melanoma Imaging and Diagnosis clinical trial. PRiSMM focuses on the development of communication models for polygenic and personalised risk scores, and investigating the behavioural and psychological impacts of receiving polygenic risk information in the melanoma setting. This study consists of two phases:

·   Phase 1 of this study piloted the communication model and genetic counselling intervention that we designed used mixed methods to assess: (1) acceptability, satisfaction, and perceived utility of a preliminary information booklet and genetic counselling appointment (questionnaires) and (2) explore qualitative feedback to inform improvements to the communication model/intervention (semi-structured interviews).

o   This pilot study is now complete: Evaluating an approach for communicating integrated risk scores for melanoma | European Journal of Human Genetics

·   Phase 2 is a randomised control trail which aims to assess the psychosocial and behavioural impact of receiving personalised risk information for melanoma. This study will use mixed methods (questionnaires at baseline, 1- and 12-months and qualitative interviews) to evaluate the psychosocial (i.e. distress, personal utility, risk perception, etc…) and behavioural impacts (i.e. sun safety and adherence to skin check recommendations) of receiving personalised risk information.

o   This study is ongoing

·   https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6529-7528

Contact us:  prismm@uq.edu.au 

Research outputs

  1. Evaluating an approach for communicating integrated risk scores for melanoma

    Wallingford, Courtney K., Adam Mothershaw, Clare Primiero, Tenielle Clinch, Tamara Dawson, Nathan Ingold, H. Peter Soyer, Matthew H. Law, Aideen McInerney-Leo, and Tatiane Yanes. "Evaluating an approach for communicating integrated risk scores for melanoma." European Journal of Human Genetics (2024): 1-8.

     

  2. Models of communication for polygenic scores and associated psychosocial and behavioral effects on recipients: a systematic review

    Wallingford, Courtney K., Kovilpillai, Hannah, Jacobs, Chris, Turbitt, Erin, Primiero, Clare A., Young, Mary-Anne, Brockman, Deanna G., Soyer, H. Peter, McInerney-Leo, Aideen M., and Yanes, Tatiane (2022). Models of communication for polygenic scores and associated psychosocial and behavioral effects on recipients: a systematic review. Genetics in Medicine 25 (1) 1-11.

Funding

This study is funded by the:

  • National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grant

  • The Australian Melanoma Research Foundation