Faculty mentor/PI email address
hudricre@rowan.edu
Keywords
retrospective chart review, Limited English Proficiency, Skin Cancer
IRB or IACUC Protocol Number
G25052, PRO-2025-141
Date of Presentation
5-6-2026 12:00 AM
Poster Abstract
Introduction: This research project "Comparing timing of care for skin cancer patients with limited English proficiency who require interpretation during medical visits to patients with English proficiency" was accepted under the CREATE Grant. The hypothesis was that patients who require medical interpretation during their visits would show a longer period of time between noticing a skin lesion to definitive diagnosis. Previous research has shown improved health care outcomes, but has mixed results on patient satisfaction and health care experience. This poster aims to detail the limitations faced during the execution of a retrospective chart review from the perspective of a 2nd year medical student.
Methods: To conduct our retrospective chart review we received IRB approval from both Virtua Health and Rowan Medicine. Informed consent was waived due to the retrospective nature of the study. Included patients were ≥18 years old with a recorded diagnosis of a skin lesion, revised later to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Data collected included age, ethnicity, race, cSCC stage, treatment type, and insurance.
Results/Limitations: Key limitations included the choice of non-standardized data variables, relying on documentation from non-affiliated sources as neither institution has an internal dermatology department, time to receive approvals from different IRBs, and time to gain access to electronic health records. Out of 278 patient charts only 2 had a preferred language other than English. Only 2 of 60 initial charts had clear dermatology documentation scanned into their charts. After project revision, 25 of 341 patient charts recorded race as anything other than White.
Conclusion: Future endeavors should consider using only universal standardized variables, determining if the desired patient demographic is obtainable by the institution, and noting official procedures in a consolidated manner to limit time spent hunting down appropriate administration for project approval and record access.
Disciplines
Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Health Services Administration | Medicine and Health Sciences | Quality Improvement
Included in
Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, Health Services Administration Commons, Quality Improvement Commons
The Obstacles of Performing a Retrospective Chart Review
Introduction: This research project "Comparing timing of care for skin cancer patients with limited English proficiency who require interpretation during medical visits to patients with English proficiency" was accepted under the CREATE Grant. The hypothesis was that patients who require medical interpretation during their visits would show a longer period of time between noticing a skin lesion to definitive diagnosis. Previous research has shown improved health care outcomes, but has mixed results on patient satisfaction and health care experience. This poster aims to detail the limitations faced during the execution of a retrospective chart review from the perspective of a 2nd year medical student.
Methods: To conduct our retrospective chart review we received IRB approval from both Virtua Health and Rowan Medicine. Informed consent was waived due to the retrospective nature of the study. Included patients were ≥18 years old with a recorded diagnosis of a skin lesion, revised later to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Data collected included age, ethnicity, race, cSCC stage, treatment type, and insurance.
Results/Limitations: Key limitations included the choice of non-standardized data variables, relying on documentation from non-affiliated sources as neither institution has an internal dermatology department, time to receive approvals from different IRBs, and time to gain access to electronic health records. Out of 278 patient charts only 2 had a preferred language other than English. Only 2 of 60 initial charts had clear dermatology documentation scanned into their charts. After project revision, 25 of 341 patient charts recorded race as anything other than White.
Conclusion: Future endeavors should consider using only universal standardized variables, determining if the desired patient demographic is obtainable by the institution, and noting official procedures in a consolidated manner to limit time spent hunting down appropriate administration for project approval and record access.