title: Patient knowledge, awareness, and delay in seeking medical attention for malignant melanoma.
abstract: We investigated the relationship between patient knowledge, awareness, and delay in seeking medical attention for melanoma. The study population was comprised of 255 cases with cutaneous melanoma newly diagnosed during January 15, 1987 to May 15, 1989, who were part of a population-based case control study. Personal interviews were conducted to obtain information on patient's knowledge of melanoma signs and symptoms, skin awareness, delay in seeking medical attention, and related covariates. The adjusted odds ratio for the association between skin awareness and delay was 0.30 (95% confidence interval 0.12-0.71). Odds ratios ranged from 0.43 to 0.81 for knowledge and delay. Awareness of skin changes was associated with a reduced Breslow depth for stage I melanomas. Individuals who are aware of skin changes and abnormalities appear to be less likely to delay seeking medical attention for melanoma. Knowledge of melanoma signs and symptoms may also contribute to a decreased delay in melanoma diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10021, USA.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Oliveria
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Christos
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Halpern
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fine
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Barnhill
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berwick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001364:Awareness; D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D019359:Knowledge; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016353:Self-Examination; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors