title: Barriers and facilitators of adherence to medical advice on skin self-examination during melanoma follow-up care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Melanoma is the fastest growing tumor of the skin, which disproportionately affects younger and middle-aged adults. As melanomas are visible, recognizable, and highly curable while in early stages, early diagnosis is one of the most effective measures to decrease melanoma-related mortality. Skin self-examination results in earlier detection and removal of the melanoma. Due to the elevated risk of survivors for developing subsequent melanomas, monthly self-exams are strongly recommended as part of follow-up care. Yet, only a minority of high-risk individuals practices systematic and regular self-exams. This can be improved through patient education. However, dermatological education is effective only in about 50% of the cases and little is known about those who do not respond. In the current literature, psychosocial variables like distress, coping with cancer, as well as partner and physician support are widely neglected in relation to the practice of skin self-examination, despite the fact that they have been shown to be essential for other health behaviors and for adherence to medical advice. Moreover, the current body of knowledge is compromised by the inconsistent conceptualization of SSE. The main objective of the current project is to examine psychosocial predictors of skin self-examination using on a rigorous and clinically sound methodology.
  
  
  METHODS
  The longitudinal, mixed-method study examines key psychosocial variables related to the acquisition and to the long-term maintenance of skin self-examination in 200 patients with melanoma. Practice of self-exam behaviors is assessed at 3 and 12 months after receiving an educational intervention designed based on best-practice standards. Examined predictors of skin self-exam behaviors include biological sex, perceived self-exam efficacy, distress, partner and physician support, and coping strategies. Qualitative analyses of semi-structured interviews will complement and enlighten the quantitative findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The identification of short and long-term predictors of skin self-examination and an increased understanding of barriers will allow health care professionals to better address patient difficulties in adhering to this life-saving health behavior. Furthermore, the findings will enable the development and evaluation of evidence-based, comprehensive intervention strategies. Ultimately, these findings could impact a wide range of outreach programs and secondary prevention initiatives for other populations with increased melanoma risk.
authors: Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, 3700, rue McTavish, Montréal, QC, H3A 1Y2, Canada. annett.koerner@mcgill.ca
authors: Annett
authors: A
authors: Körner
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Drapeau
authors: Brett D
authors: BD
authors: Thombs
authors: Zeev
authors: Z
authors: Rosberger
authors: Beatrice
authors: B
authors: Wang
authors: Manish
authors: M
authors: Khanna
authors: Alan
authors: A
authors: Spatz
authors: Adina
authors: A
authors: Coroiu
authors: Rosalind
authors: R
authors: Garland
authors: Gerald
authors: G
authors: Batist
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003144:Communication Barriers; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016353:Self-Examination / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support