Prevalence of whole-body skin self-examination in a population at high risk for skin cancer (Australia).
OBJECTIVE
Whole-body skin self-examination (SSE) with presentation of suspicious lesions to a physician may improve early detection of melanoma. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence and determinants of SSE in a high-risk population in preparation for a community-based randomised controlled trial of screening for melanoma.


METHODS
A telephone survey reached 3110 residents older than 30 years (overall response rate of 66.9%) randomly selected from 18 regional communities in Queensland, Australia.


RESULTS
Overall, 804 (25.9%) participants reported whole-body SSE within the past 12 months and 1055 (33.9%) within the past three years. Whole-body SSE was associated in multivariate logistic regression analysis with younger age (< 50 years); higher education; having received either a whole-body skin examination, recommendation or instruction on SSE by a primary care physicial; giving skin checks a high priority; concern about skin cancer and a personal history of skin cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, the prevalence of SSE in the present study is among the highest yet observed in Australia, with about one-third of the adult population reporting whole-body SSE in the past three years. People over 50 years, who are at relatively higher risk for skin cancer, currently perform SSE less frequently than younger people.
Aitken
Joanne F
JF
Department of Epidemiology, Queensland Cancer Fund, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Joannea@qcfepi.org.au
Janda
Monika
M
Lowe
John B
JB
Elwood
Mark
M
Ring
Ian T
IT
Youl
Philippa H
PH
Firman
David W
DW
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D016353:Self-Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology