A pilot study using nurse education as an intervention to increase skin self-examination for melanoma.
BACKGROUND
A pilot study of an intervention using nurse education for skin self-examination (SSE) was conducted in order to determine specific factors that would be important for the design of a larger intervention.


METHODS
Seventy-five subjects completed a pretest, a posttest, a thorough skin examination by a dermatologist, and an educational session by a nurse.


RESULTS
Results showed that the subjects increased the frequency of SSE to a predetermined optimal frequency of once every one to two months. Increases in optimal SSE were associated with increases in knowledge about melanoma (p = 0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
Before intensive campaigns are launched to improve SSE, models incorporating theories of behavioral change should be tested.
Berwick
M
M
Department of Epidemiology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10021, USA. berwickm@mskcc.org
Oliveria
S
S
Luo
S T
ST
Headley
A
A
Bolognia
J L
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010358:Patient Participation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016353:Self-Examination / Q000451:nursing*; D012867:Skin; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*