Reported skin cancer screening of US adult workers.
BACKGROUND
Early detection of skin cancer by skin examination may reduce its associated morbidity and mortality, in particular for workers routinely exposed to sun.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to describe the proportion of US workers reporting skin cancer screening examination in a representative sample of the US worker population in the National Health Interview Survey.


METHODS
Report of skin cancer examination in the 2000 and 2005 National Health Interview Survey cancer control supplements were examined by a range of variables.


RESULTS
Lifetime and 12-month reported clinical skin examination prevalence was 15% and 8%, respectively. Workers with elevated occupational exposure to ultraviolet light were less likely to have ever received a skin examination than the average US worker. Logistic regression analysis identified occupational category and age, sex, race, education level, health insurance, and sun-protective behavior as significant independent correlates of skin cancer examination.


CONCLUSIONS
A limitation is potential healthy worker effect and underestimation of skin cancer screening with self-reported data.


CONCLUSIONS
Routine examination by primary care physicians frequently does not include a thorough skin examination. Physicians should be even more vigilant with patients at increased risk of excessive occupational sun exposure, as early detection of skin cancer by periodic skin examination decreases morbidity and can improve survival.
LeBlanc
William G
WG
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136, USA.
Vidal
Liat
L
Kirsner
Robert S
RS
Lee
David J
DJ
Caban-Martinez
Alberto J
AJ
McCollister
Kathryn E
KE
Arheart
Kristopher L
KL
Chung-Bridges
Katherine
K
Christ
Sharon
S
Clark
John
J
Lewis
John E
JE
Davila
Evelyn P
EP
Rouhani
Panta
P
Fleming
Lora E
LE
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009790:Occupations / Q000145:classification* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology