Changes in patient perception and behavior following Mohs micrographic surgery.
BACKGROUND
Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is used for the removal of difficult or recurrent skin cancer. Little is known about the behavioral changes of patients who have undergone this procedure.


OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to document patients' long-term psychological and behavioral changes following MMS.


METHODS
A survey was mailed to a sample of 260 persons who underwent the Mohs procedure in 1997. It included questions on sunscreen use, level of anxiety about cancer, patient confidence in MMS, and changes in high-risk habits.


RESULTS
The study included 214 patients who responded to our mailed questionnaire. Trends showed an increase in some but not all preventative measures taken to avoid skin cancer recurrence post-MMS. Other healthy lifestyle changes, such as decreased cigarette smoking, were not noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Mohs micrographic surgery has an impact on some aspects of patients' health-related behavior, especially skin cancer prevention. Other aspects which are not affected may be targets for extra patient education.
Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
E
E
Maser
D
D
Berg
N
N
Solish
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015580:Mohs Surgery; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*