title: Skin care behaviors among melanoma survivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinical recommendations for survivors of melanoma generally include skin care behaviors, including regular physician and skin self-examination to identify any recurrences or second primary disease early, as well as sun protection. We measured skin care behaviors in a population-based sample of melanoma survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Melanoma survivors were approached through the regional National Cancer Institute-funded cancer registry (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) and recruited to this study with a response rate of approximately 75%, for a total sample of n = 313.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample was 99% Caucasian, 56% female, 44% male, 81% married, 62% college educated, and 48% with an income over 70 K annually, with an average age of 56 years. Over the last 7 days, a total of 45% reported wearing sunscreen, 59% reported wearing long sleeves, 80% reported wearing pants, 35% reported wearing something on the head, and 36% stayed in available shade. Skin self-examination behaviors were reported at relatively low frequencies, with only 22% performing a thorough check on skin. A total of 88% of survivors reported that their physician checked their skin in the past few years by having all clothes removed. A multivariate analysis using logistic regression indicated that perceived risk was positively related to having the skin checked by a medical provider but no other skin protection behaviors. Gender effects were also detected for wearing sunscreen and wearing a hat or scarf.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data indicate that melanoma survivors are performing sun protection behaviors to a moderate extent. Future studies can address barriers to consistent use of these behaviors in melanoma survivors.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA. dbowen@bu.edu
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jabson
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Haddock
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hay
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011481:Protective Clothing; D012307:Risk Factors; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016353:Self-Examination; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013471:Sunburn / Q000517:prevention & control; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013689:Telephone
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents