Effects of total-body digital photography on cancer worry in patients with atypical mole syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Cancer worry about developing melanoma in at-risk patients may affect one's quality of life and adherence to screening. Little is known about melanoma-related worry in patients with atypical mole syndrome (AMS).


OBJECTIVE
To quantify levels and elucidate predictors of worry related to developing melanoma in patients with AMS and to determine whether total-body digital photography (TBDP) in pigmented lesion clinics (PLCs) reduces worry.


METHODS
In this pretest-posttest study, patients with AMS from PLCs at 2 academic medical centers were recruited from June 1, 2005, through October 31, 2008, to answer questions about cancer worry before and after undergoing TBDP. Questionnaires used included the new melanoma and recurrent melanoma Revised Impact of Event Scale (RIES), the Melanoma Worry Scale (MWS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Life Orientation Test.


METHODS
All patients underwent TBDP.


METHODS
Changes in the MWS and new melanoma RIES scores.


RESULTS
A total of 138 patients completed baseline questionnaires; 108 patients (78.3%) completed questionnaires after TBDP. Baseline levels of worry were low and reduced further after TBDP. In patients with a personal history of melanoma, worry was reduced on all scales. In patients without a personal history of melanoma, only the new melanoma RIES score was significantly decreased. Predictors of baseline MWS scores include female sex, personal history of melanoma, and higher Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores, adjusted for demographics, family history of melanoma, and Life Orientation Test scores. Adjusted predictors of the baseline new melanoma RIES score were similar but also included lower educational level and did not include sex.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with AMS have low levels of melanoma-related worry, which is similar to data from other populations at high risk of cancers. We found that TBDP is a clinically useful tool that can be used in PLCs to help decrease worry about developing melanoma in at-risk patients.
Department of Dermatology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia2currently with the Department of Dermatology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City.
Molly S
MS
Moye
Department of Dermatology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia3currently with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
Sallyann M C
SM
King
Department of Dermatology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
Zakiya P
ZP
Rice
Department of Dermatology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
Laura K
LK
DeLong
Department of Dermatology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia4currently with Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, California.
Anne M
AM
Seidler
Department of Dermatology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia5Center for Research and Grants, Baptist Health South Florida, Coral Gables.
Emir
E
Veledar
Skin Cancer Institute/Arizona Cancer Center, Division of Dermatology, University of Arizona, Tucson.
Clara
C
Curiel-Lewandrowski
Department of Dermatology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia7Division of Dermatology, Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, Georgia.
Suephy C
SC
Chen
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D010781:Photography / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013577:Syndrome; D000096142:Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma