Patient awareness and sun protection behaviour following excision of basal cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Limited information is available regarding disease awareness and sun protection behaviour in patients previously treated for non-melanoma skin cancer.


METHODS
Using a telephone-administered questionnaire, we investigated these characteristics in 250 patients in the west of Ireland who had undergone excision of basal cell carcinomas between January 2011 and December 2012.


RESULTS
Only 28.8% of respondents knew that the lesion they had excised was a BCC and understood that there was a significant chance of developing another similar lesion in the next 3 years. Women and patients under age 65 were significantly better informed about their diagnosis than men (p = 0.021 and 0.000 respectively). The majority of patients (71.2%) knew that the overall effect of UV radiation on the skin was harmful and did employ some form of sun protection (avoid midday sun 72%; stay in shade 74%; wear hat 73.6%; wear sunscreen 72.8%). Females were statistically more likely to exercise better sun-protection behaviour (p = 0.002). While 76.8% of patients undertook some form of outdoor activity every day, only 22.8% wore sunscreen every day.


CONCLUSIONS
Greater efforts should be made to communicate disease details and sun protection implications associated with basal cell carcinoma, especially to male patients. Improved population specific skin cancer awareness may lead to earlier detection and thus decrease both the patient morbidity and economic burden associated with locally advanced basal cell carcinoma.
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University College Hospital Galway, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland. Electronic address: catherinedeblacam@rcsi.ie.
Catherine
C
de Blacam
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University College Hospital Galway, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland.
Clodagh Mc
CM
Dermott
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University College Hospital Galway, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland.
Conor
C
Sugrue
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University College Hospital Galway, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland.
Darren
D
Kilmartin
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University College Hospital Galway, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland.
Jack
J
Kelly
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D013473:Sunscreening Agents
BCC; Basal cell carcinoma; Patient awareness; Sun protection