title: Skin protection behaviour and sex differences in melanoma location in patients with multiple primary melanomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies have shown that sunscreen usage, sun-protection measures and self-examination rates in patients with single primary melanomas (SPM) are similar to that in the general population. This study hypothesises that these rates would be different in a population with multiple primary melanomas (MPM). We further hypothesise that there would be a sex difference in melanoma location in patients with MPM. The objectives of this study were to determine skin protection measures, self-examinations and melanoma location in a cohort of patients with MPM.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was conducted on 137 patients with MPM examining their sun-protection measures, skin self-examination rates and medical and phenotypic characteristics. These data were combined with a review of their medical records to examine the patients' skin cancer history.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with MPM had higher rates of skin self-evaluation (74% vs 22%), sunscreen usage (70% vs 45%) and other sun-protection measures (95% vs 46%) than has been published for patients with a history of a SPM. We have also shown that women have a higher risk of developing melanomas on their arms (p < 0.01) and lower legs (p < 0.05) than men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This report showed the rates of skin self-examination, sunscreen usage and other sun-protection methods in patients with MPM is higher than in studies of patients with SPM. It also highlighted sex differences in terms of melanoma location for patients with MPM. Further studies to examine the cause of the differences in these forms of protective behaviour could help improve the utilisation of these important preventative measures in all patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.|School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.|Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McMeniman
authors.affiliation: South East Dermatology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.|South East Dermatology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: De'Ambrosis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm; D005127:Eye Color; D005260:Female; D006200:Hair Color; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D011481:Protective Clothing; D016353:Self-Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents
keywords: multiple melanoma; prevention; risk factor