Who comes to skin checks?
OBJECTIVE
To examine the characteristics of persons attending skin checks carried out by the Cancer Society of New Zealand.


METHODS
Persons aged 20 years or over attending three skin checks open to the public in the Taranaki region in the summer of 1991-2 were surveyed regarding the presence of risk factors for melanoma and reasons for attending the skin check.


RESULTS
Overall, more women (n = 159) than men (n = 120) attended the clinics. Questionnaire results were available for 197 of those attending (110 women and 87 men). The average age of the sample was 49.4 years; 99% were from a European background. Forty percent of the sample had two or more of the following risk factors for melanoma: sun-sensitive skin, history of severe burning, red or fair hair, being treated for a skin cancer, and a family history of skin cancer. Fifty-one percent reported at least one change in a mole over the last 12 months, and 42% gave the presence of a worrying mark on their skin as a reason for coming.


CONCLUSIONS
Those who attended the skin checks were likely to be at increased risk of skin cancer compared to the general population, and more often came because of a specific skin lesion than for a general skin check.
McGee
R
R
Hugh Adam Cancer Epidemiology Unit, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin.
Elwood
M
M
Williams
S
S
Lowry
F
F
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control