Reasons to seek medical attention for a skin check-up: the layman's perspective.
BACKGROUND
The incidence of cutaneous malignant melanoma has increased rapidly in Sweden during the last 20 years. One way of reducing mortality is through early diagnosis. The aim of this study was to explore the reasons why different people seek medical attention for pigmented skin lesions, using a qualitative approach.


METHODS
Three groups of laymen (N=90), all with varying experience of pigmented skin lesions, were interviewed.


RESULTS
Most of the respondents had sought medical attention primarily because they were worried about a specific skin lesion. Patients with melanoma mentioned concern about very dark skin lesions more often than other respondents did. Encouragement by family and friends was also important.


CONCLUSIONS
Very dark coloration in pigmented skin lesions might be added to public recommendations for early discovery of melanoma. No other new nonmedical feature or circumstance was identified when the results were compared with two established systems for clinical diagnosis of melanoma (the ABCD criteria and the seven-point checklist).
Bränström
Richard
R
Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. richard.branstrom@fhi.se
Hedblad
Mari-Anne
MA
Krakau
Ingvar
I
Ullén
Henrik
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003880:Dermatology / Q000379:methods; D004416:Dysplastic Nevus Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D016353:Self-Examination / Q000379:methods*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D013548:Sweden