title: The Influence of Disease Perceptions on the Participation of Melanoma Patients and their Partners in Skin Self-Examination Education.
abstract: By examining differences between patients who enroll or decline to enroll in a partner-based study, future research can benefit and adapt recruitment strategies to reduce sampling biases. This study examined differences between melanoma patients' who either declined or enrolled in an intervention aimed at increasing skin self-examination (SSE) with partner assistance. Specifically, differences were assessed for gender, age, perception of likelihood of getting another melanoma, benefits of early detection, and severity of the disease. Additionally, reasons for declining were examined. Among 368 melanoma patients interviewed during their appointment with the treating physician, 187 enrolled in the study and 181 declined to participate. No significant age or gender differences between enrolled and declined patients were observed. However, enrolled participants had significantly higher reports on the likelihood of getting another melanoma, severity of melanoma, and early detection as being beneficial (p<0.001). Among those declining to participate, males reported being "too busy and can't make follow-up appointments" whereas females reported their "partner won't assist". Results indicate perceptions of the benefits of early detection, the severity of melanoma, and patients' increased risk of developing a melanoma may have influenced patients' decision to participate. Future studies may benefit by highlighting these topics in order to motivate more patients to participant in partner studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Gaber
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rikki
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Hultgren
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brittney
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Stapleton
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jerod
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mallett Kimberly
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Turrisi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rob
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Hernandez
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Claudia
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Bilmoria
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Karl
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wayne Jeffrey
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martini Mary
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Robinson June
keywords: Disease perception; Early detection; Melanoma; Partner assistance