Predictors of skin self‐examination performance

Abstract

BACKGROUND Skin self‐examination (SSE) may reduce the death rate from melanoma by as much as 63%. Enhancing SSE performance may reduce mortality and morbidity. This study determined predictors of SSE performance in a population of individuals who were at risk of developing melanoma or nonmelanoma skin carcinoma (NMSC). METHODS Patients (n = 200) were asked about their knowledge of the warning signs, their sense of the importance of SSE to them, their attitude about and confidence in their ability to perform SSE, and their impression of their partner's comfort and ability with assisting in the skin examination. The interval since last skin examination, the number of physician visits (nondermatologist and dermatologist), the number and type of skin malignancies, the time since initial diagnosis, the number of skin biopsies, and health insurance status were determined from the medical records for the prior 3 years. RESULTS Seventy percent of participants performed SSE. The three strongest predictors of SSE performance were attitude, having dermatology visits with skin biopsies and at least one skin carcinoma in the previous 3 years, and confidence in performance (P = 0.0001). Other predictors of SSE performance were perceived risk (P = 0.0001), knowledge (P = 0.004), and younger age (P = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS Annual skin examination by physicians and monthly SSE by patients reinforce one another in promoting early detection. In this high‐risk population, the dermatologist reinforced SSE performance by biopsy of skin lesions that were skin malignancies. People have intimate knowledge of their own skin and bear the consequences for failure to detect and treat skin carcinoma early; thus, monthly SSE becomes relevant as a personal health‐promotion habit. Cancer 2002;95:135–46. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.10637

Relationship and partner moderator variables increase self-efficacy of performing skin self-examination

“…23,24 Relationship and partner variables were measured at preintervention baseline and the SSE self-efficacy outcome was measured at the 4-month follow-up. 25 was adapted for use to assess quality of the relationship of the couples in the study.…”

“…Patients were readministered the assessment at a 4-month follow-up period. 23,24 Relationship and partner variables were measured at preintervention baseline and the SSE self-efficacy outcome was measured at the 4-month follow-up.…”

“…Patients were readministered the assessment at a 4-month follow-up period. 23,24 Relationship and partner variables were measured at preintervention baseline and the SSE self-efficacy outcome was measured at the 4-month follow-up.Quality of the relationship-The Dyadic Adjustment Scale 25 was adapted for use to assess quality of the relationship of the couples in the study. The scale consists of 32 items that measure various dimensions of quality of the relationship including satisfaction, cohesion, consensus, and affection expression.…”

Psychosocial Mediators of a Nurse Intervention to Increase Skin Self-examination in Patients at High Risk for Melanoma

“…Among those at high risk for developing melanoma, demographic predictors of adherence to SSE include being female, younger, and having a higher educational level (10). Medical factors related to SSE performance include having a history of skin cancer and greater sun sensitivity (10).…”

A melanoma malignum korai felismerését befolyásoló tényezők

“…Robinson és mtsai szerint az önvizsgá-lat végzését befolyásolja az egyén betegséghez való hozzáállása (attitűd), a melanomával kapcsolatos ismeretei, az életkora, valamint a kockázati tényezők ismerete [17]. A populációs szintű szűrővizsgálatok korai felismerésben betöltött szerepéről megoszlanak a vélemények az irodalomban melanoma vonatkozásában.…”