What motivates men age > or =50 years to participate in a screening program for melanoma?
BACKGROUND
The screening behavior and screening outcomes of men age > or =50 years was investigated within a randomized controlled trial of a community-based intervention of screening for melanoma, consisting of a community education program, an education program for medical practitioners, and the provision of dedicated skin-screening clinics.


METHODS
Data from cross-sectional telephone surveys before (559 completed interviews), at the end (591 completed interview), and at 2 years after the intervention (445 completed interviews) were analyzed. In addition, the authors analyzed data from skin-screening clinics within the intervention program (3355 men age > or =50 years participated).


RESULTS
During the intervention period men age > or =50 years increased both their screening behavior and intention to screen. Those men age > or =50 years who reported a past history of removal of a mole as well as other risk factors for skin cancer and positive attitudes toward screening were more likely to participate in skin screening across time. Men age > or =50 years accounted for 20.5% of all skin-screening clinic attendees, 31.3% of those referred for a suspicious lesion, 48.5% of melanomas, and 45% of all keratinocyte carcinomas diagnosed within the screening program, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The intervention program successfully motivated men age > or =50 years to attend screening for skin cancer, resulting in the highest yield of skin cancer within this subgroup of the population. Messages addressing skin cancer risk factors and attitudes toward skin cancer and screening could be used to target a screening program for melanoma toward men age > or =50 years.
Janda
Monika
M
Viertel Centre for Research in Cancer Control, Queensland Cancer Fund, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. MonikaJanda@qldcancer.com.au
Youl
Philippa H
PH
Lowe
John B
JB
Baade
Peter D
PD
Elwood
Mark
M
Ring
Ian T
IT
Aitken
Joanne F
JF
D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology*; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016353:Self-Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*