Published 2018
| Version v1
Publication
MelaNostrum: A Consensus Questionnaire of Standardized Epidemiologic and Clinical Variables for Melanoma Risk Assessment by the MelaNostrum Consortium
Creators
- Stratigos, Alexander J
- Fargnoli, Maria Concetta
- De Nicolo, Arcangela
- Peris, Ketty
- Puig, Susana
- Soura, Efthymia
- Menin, Chiara
- Calista, Donato
- Ghiorzo, Paola
- Mandala, Mario
- Massi, Daniella
- Rodolfo, Monica
- Del Regno, Laura
- Stefanaki, Irene
- Gogas, Helen
- Bataille, Veronique
- Tucker, Margaret A
- Whiteman, David
- Nagore, Eduardo
- Landi, Maria Teresa
Contributors
Others:
- Stratigos, Alexander J
- Fargnoli, Maria Concetta
- De Nicolo, Arcangela
- Peris, Ketty
- Puig, Susana
- Soura, Efthymia
- Menin, Chiara
- Calista, Donato
- Ghiorzo, Paola
- Mandala, Mario
- Massi, Daniella
- Rodolfo, Monica
- Del Regno, Laura
- Stefanaki, Irene
- Gogas, Helen
- Bataille, Veronique
- Tucker, Margaret A
- Whiteman, David
- Nagore, Eduardo
- Landi, Maria Teresa
Description
Background: Many melanoma observational studies have been carried out across different countries and geographic areas using heterogeneous assessments of epidemiologic risk factors and clinical variables. Aim: To develop a consensus questionnaire to standardize epidemiologic and clinical data collection for melanoma risk assessment. Methods: We used a stepwise strategy that included: compilation of variables from case–control datasets collected at various centres of the MelaNostrum Consortium; integration of variables from published case–control studies; consensus discussion of the collected items by MelaNostrum members; revision by independent experts; addition of online tools and image-based charts; questionnaire testing across centres and generation of a final draft. Results: We developed a core consensus questionnaire (MelanoQ) that includes four separate sections: A. general and demographic data; B. phenotypic and ultraviolet radiation exposure risk factors and lifestyle habits; C. clinical examination, medical and family history; and D. diagnostic data on melanoma (cases only). Accompanying online tools, informative tables, and image-based charts aid standardization. Different subsections of the questionnaire are designed for self-administration, patient interviews performed by a physician or study nurse, and data collection from medical records. Conclusions: The MelanoQ questionnaire is a useful tool for the collection and standardization of epidemiologic and clinical data across different studies, centres, cultures and languages. This will expedite ongoing efforts to compile high-quality data for pooled analyses or meta-analyses and offer a solid base for the design of clinical, epidemiologic and translational studies on melanoma.
Additional details
Identifiers
- URL
- http://hdl.handle.net/11567/935459
- URN
- urn:oai:iris.unige.it:11567/935459
Origin repository
- Origin repository
- UNIGE