Abstract:

Objective: Whole-body skin self-examination (SSE) with presentation of suspicious lesions to a physician may improve early detection of melanoma. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence and determinants of SSE in a high-risk population in preparation for a community-based randomised controlled trial of screening for melanoma.

Methods: A telephone survey reached 3110 residents older than 30 years (overall response rate of 66.9%) randomly selected from 18 regional communities in Queensland, Australia.

Results: Overall, 804 (25.9%) participants reported whole-body SSE within the past 12 months and 1055 (33.9%) within the past three years. Whole-body SSE was associated in multivariate logistic regression analysis with younger age ( <50 years); higher education; having received either a whole-body skin examination, recommendation or instruction on SSE by a primary care physician; giving skin checks a high priority; concern about skin cancer and a personal history of skin cancer.

Conclusion: Overall, the prevalence of SSE in the present study is among the highest yet observed in Australia, with about one-third of the adult population reporting whole-body SSE in the past threeyears. People over 50 years, who are at relatively higher risk for skin cancer, currently perform SSE less frequently than younger people.

Keywords: melanoma; randomised-controlled trial; screening; skin self-examination

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1023/B:CACO.0000036451.39128.f6

Affiliations: 1: School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Department of Epidemiology, Queensland Cancer Fund, P.O. Box 201, Spring Hill, Brisbane, QLD 4004, Austalia. Ph.: + 7-3258-2300; fax:+7-3258-2310; : Joannea@qcfepi.org.au, Email: Joannea@qcfepi.org.au 2: Department of Epidemiology, Queensland Cancer Fund, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 3: Department of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA 4: National Cancer Control Initiative, Carlton, Victoria, Australia 5: Health Information Centre, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 6: Office of Economic and Statistical Research, Queensland Treasury, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia