title: Does the type of promotional material influence men's attendance at skin screening clinics?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The incidence of skin cancer is rising in many populations around the world. In Australia, men have both the highest incidence of thick melanoma and an increased risk of dying from this disease. Skin screening may provide a method for detecting lesions at an earlier stage. This study sought to assess the impact of two methods of encouraging men to attend free open-access skin screening clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomised controlled trial of two recruitment methods. Subjects comprised all men aged 30 to 79 years (n=1,322) from a rural community. We randomly allocated 50% (661) to receive a personalised letter with the remaining 50% receiving the letter plus an additional brochure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups were similar in age distribution. A total of 250 men (18.9%) attended the skin screening clinic. Overall, there was no difference in rates of attendance between the two groups. Younger men (30 to 49 years) in the letter and brochure group were more likely to attend a clinic, while men > or =50 years in the letter only group were more likely to attend (p=0.01)
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that a personalised letter or targeted approach of invitation is effective in encouraging men to attend a skin screening clinic. The addition of health information through the use of a glossy brochure did not increase screening participation among men over 50.
authors.affiliation: Viertel Centre for Research in Cancer Control, Queensland Cancer Fund, Queensland. pyoul@qldcancer.com.au
authors.forename: Philippa H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Youl
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janda
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.forename: Joanne F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Aitken
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*