Skin Examination Practices Among Melanoma Survivors and Their Children

Short and Long-term Barriers and Facilitators of Skin Self-Examination Among Individuals Diagnosed with Melanoma

“…Taken together, these results suggest that while individuals continued to examine their bodies for problematic moles to some extent throughout the study period, the percentage of those who adhered fully to the recommendations received during the educational session (and consequently to the recommendations included in the clinical guidelines of care for individuals with a prior history of melanoma) decreased from 3 to 12 months, but decreased less from 12 to 24 months. Of note, the reported rates of SSE behaviour found in this study are higher than those previously reported in cross-sectional studies (Olsen et al, 2015;Glenn et al, 2016;Pollitt et al, 2009). This is potentially due to the fact that we offered all of our participants a standardized educational session on how to adequately examine one's skin to identify problematic lesions, which may boosted everyone's performance of SSE, some of which was maintained over time (see reported results for SSE comprehensive).…”

“…Age, knowledge about detection, distress (general and melanoma-specific), and constructive attitudes about health were not related to either comprehensive nor optimal SSE. Of note, previous studies have found females, rather than males, to be more likely to perform SSE and higher levels of education to be associated with SSE (Carli, De Giorgi, Palli, et al, 2003;Glenn et al, 2016;Manne & Lessin, 2006;Olsen et al, 2015;Robinson et al, 2002). Given the low strength of the association between these variables and the SSE outcome in the current study, we recommend caution when interpreting these effects and their clinical relevance at this point.…”

“…For example, a large cohort study conducted in Australia (n=1,433 confirmed melanoma cases) found that 57.4 % of participants had performed an SSE in the past 3 years (Olsen et al, 2015). A cross-sectional study found that among 316 melanoma survivors, 28% reported having ever engaged in SSE, 16% reported doing monthly SSE, and 8% reported doing SSE every 2 months (Glenn, Chen, Chang, Lin, & Bastani, 2016). Another cross-sectional study (n=321 melanoma patients) found that 15% of individuals performed skin checks by examining their moles every 1-2 months, 18% checked their skin every 6 months, and 17 % checked their skin once a year (Pollitt et al, 2009).…”

“…Personal characteristics that have been associated with SSE include a personal or family history of skin cancer, including melanoma (Aitken et al, 2004;Girgis, Campbell, Redman, & Sanson-Fisher, 1991;Glenn et al, 2016;Robinson et al, 2002), being female, and having a higher level of education (Carli, De Giorgi, Palli, et al, 2003;Glenn et al, 2016;Manne & Lessin, 2006;Olsen et al, 2015;Robinson et al, 2002). Unlike medical and demographic factors linked to SSE, which are not generally amenable to intervention, psychosocial and educational factors associated with SSE are potential targets of interventions that aim to improve adherence to SSE instructions.…”

“…Unlike medical and demographic factors linked to SSE, which are not generally amenable to intervention, psychosocial and educational factors associated with SSE are potential targets of interventions that aim to improve adherence to SSE instructions. Psychosocial factors associated with SSE behaviours in melanoma survivors and other high-risk individuals include greater knowledge about melanoma and SSE (DiFronzo, Wanek, & Morton, 2001;Friedman, Rigel, Silverman, Kopf, & Vossaert, 1991;Robinson et al, 2002), higher perceived susceptibility to melanoma (Azzarello, Dessureault, & Jacobsen, 2006;Glenn et al, 2016;Olsen et al, 2015;Robinson et al, 2002), positive attitude towards SSE (Robinson et al, 2002;Robinson, Turrisi, & Stapleton, 2007), confidence in being able to perform an efficacious skin self-exam (Azzarello et al, 2006;Friedman et al, 1991;Robinson et al, 2002;Robinson et al, 2007), and having a physician recommend SSE (Chiu, Won, Malik, & Weinstock, 2006;Manne & Lessin, 2006;Robinson, Rigel, & Amonette, 1998;Robinson et al, 2007). There is also preliminary evidence that cancer-related, occupational and financial distress were associated with increased frequency of SSE among melanoma survivors (Körner, Augustin, & Zschocke, 2011).…”