title: The role of patient education and physician support in self-efficacy for skin self-examination among patients with melanoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This project aims to elucidate the relationships between skin self-examination (SSE), perceived physician support of SSE, and self-efficacy for SSE among melanoma patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal study of patients diagnosed with melanoma was conducted over the span of 18 months. Participants filled out questionnaires at four assessment points and participated in an SSE education about the early signs of melanoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 242 patients enrolled, the level of self-efficacy for SSE was 23% higher immediately after the educational intervention (p<.001) and the increase was retained three months (p<.001) and twelve months later (p<.001). Additionally, a one-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed that the perceived physician support of SSE positively corresponded to the level of patient self-efficacy with higher patient-reported physician support being related to higher self-efficacy (p=.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patient education and perceived physician support of SSE are positively associated with patients' level of self-efficacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physicians caring for melanoma survivors should be aware that, both SSE education and patients' perception of high physician support of SSE may be associated with higher self-efficacy for checking one's own skin for signs of cancer recurrence.
authors.affiliation: McGill University, Dept. of Educational and Counselling Psychology, 3700 rue McTavish, Room 614, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1Y2, Canada. Electronic address: zofia.czajkowska@mail.mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Czajkowska
authors.affiliation: McGill University, Dept. of Educational and Counselling Psychology, 3700 rue McTavish, Room 543, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1Y2, Canada. Electronic address: nathan.c.hall@mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: McGill University Health Centre, Div. of Clinical Epidemiology, V-building Room V2.15, 687, Avenue des Pins Ouest, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1A1, Canada. Electronic address: maida.sewitch@mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sewitch
authors.affiliation: McGill University Health Centre, Melanoma Clinic, Royal Victoria Hospital, 1001 Decarie Boulevard, Montreal, Quebec H4A 3J1, Canada. Electronic address: beatrice.wang@mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: McGill University, Dept. of Educational and Counselling Psychology, 3700 rue McTavish, Room 614, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1Y2, Canada. Electronic address: annett.korner@mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Körner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011792:Quebec; D020377:Self Efficacy; D016353:Self-Examination; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Melanoma; Patient education; Physician support; Self-efficacy; Skin cancer; Skin self-examination (SSE)