Who attends skin cancer clinics within a randomized melanoma screening program?
BACKGROUND
Screening may reduce morbidity and mortality associated with melanoma, although in the absence of randomized-controlled trials, this remains unproven.


METHODS
As part of a randomized community-based trial of melanoma screening in Queensland, Australia, sociodemographic characteristics, skin cancer risk factors and attitudes towards skin cancer associated with attendance at screening clinics and reasons for attendance or non-attendance were examined. A telephone survey was conducted among 743 attendees and 298 non-attendees.


RESULTS
After adjustment, the following factors were associated with clinic attendance: age 40-49 years, having fair skin, a personal history of skin cancer or melanoma or concern about a specific spot or mole, and no recent whole-body skin examination by a doctor. The main reasons for attendance were "to see if I have melanoma", "to have a suspicious mole checked" or "to have a whole-body skin examination". The main reasons for non-attendance were lack of knowledge about the clinics, no time or being away while the clinics were held and having had a skin check in the recent past. Overall, 77% of non-attendees compared to 65% of attendees stated they planned to participate in future screening.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that we were able to attract both men and women equally to a skin screening clinic, along with those at all levels of education and indicate the importance of using well-designed promotional materials to attract community members to skin screening clinics. Future work should test strategies to remove barriers to participation in skin screening identified in this study.
Youl
Philippa H
PH
Viertel Centre for Research in Cancer Control, Queensland Cancer Fund, P.O. Box 201, Spring Hill, Qld 4004, Australia.
Janda
Monika
M
Elwood
Mark
M
Lowe
John B
JB
Ring
Ian T
IT
Aitken
Joanne F
JF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016353:Self-Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*