Melanoma Literacy Linked With Performance of Skin Self-Examination

Higher levels of melanoma knowledge and confidence in performing skin self-examinations is associated with a greater likelihood of performing skin self-examinations, according to research published in the journal Pigment Cell and Melanoma.¹ The authors said the findings support the implementation of a public health campaign aimed at addressing deficits in melanoma literacy.

Although deaths from melanoma have fallen around 30% in the United States over the last 10 years, rates of the disease have been increasing significantly, growing by over 320% since 1975.² Melanoma now represents the fifth most common cancer in the country. Performing skin self-examinations is an effective way for non-clinicians to detect potential melanoma, enabling them to see a physician and start treatment earlier.³

“With melanoma, your eyes really can be your best tool,” Sancy Leachman, John D. Gray Endowed Chair for Melanoma Research and Professor of Dermatology at Oregon Health & Science University’s School of Medicine, said in a release.⁴ “A mole or spot on your skin that is changing in appearance—size, shape, color—is a key indicator for melanoma. And the data is clear: When melanoma is caught early, in stage 1 or 2, the 5-year relative survival rate is extremely high—almost 100 percent.”

READ MORE: Dermatologic Follow-Up Adherence Associated with Reduced Melanoma Mortality

Investigators from Oregon Health and Science University, and Lewis and Clark College conducted a study to understand the current levels of melanoma literacy and determine which literacy characteristics best correlate with self-detection behaviors. Data was gathered from a survey of urban and rural populations from Oregon, Washington, and Utah, which have similar demographics, melanoma incidence, and mortality rates.

The study cohort included 2326 survey respondents: 60.3% of respondents were from Oregon, 24.5% were from Washington, and 15.2% were from Utah. The survey included 34 questions on melanoma literacy, such as knowledge about its risks, attitudes, and preventive behaviors, and self-reported self-skin examinations and its association with melanoma literacy, self-efficacy, and belief in the benefits of skin self-examination.

Investigators found that the scores ranged from 5 out of 24 correct answers to 24 out of 24 correct answers, with an average score of 17 correct answers. Respondents across the 3 states answered the questions similarly. Questions on melanoma risk factors, such as too much sun exposure and a family history of melanoma, were answered correctly by 96.1% and 86.7% of respondents, respectively.

However, questions such as if having a lot of moles is a risk factor for melanoma and if melanoma is as likely to be detected by a person as it is by a doctor, were only answered correctly by 27% and 36% of respondents, respectively. While 84.8% of respondents said they believed in the efficacy of skin self-examinations, only 7.3% said they felt “very confident” in their ability to detect skin cancer.

Additionally, the data showed that having a high level of melanoma knowledge was significantly correlated with having risk factors for the disease, such as skin ultraviolet radiation vulnerability and lighter hair color.

“We were able to demonstrate that the combination of knowledge and confidence is important, but in particular, it is the confidence that really matters,” Jerusha Detweiler-Bedell, an author on the study, said in a release.⁴ “Of course, you need to know what unhealthy or potentially suspicious moles look like. But you might ignore or just not even try to check your own skin if you don’t first believe in yourself.”

READ MORE: Dermatology Resource Center

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References

1. Leachman SA, Latour E, Detweiler-Bedell B, et al. Melanoma literacy among the general population of three western US states. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2023 Nov;36(6):481-500. doi: 10.1111/pcmr.13106. Epub 2023 Aug 13. PMID: 37574711

2. Saginala K, Barsouk A, Aluru JS, Rawla P, Barsouk A. Epidemiology of Melanoma. Med Sci (Basel). 2021 Oct 20;9(4):63. doi: 10.3390/medsci9040063. PMID: 34698235; PMCID: PMC8544364

3. Rowell D, Nguyen KH, Baade P, et al. Evaluation of a Skin Self-Examination Programme: a Four-Stage Recursive Model. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2017 Apr 1;18(4):1063-1067. doi: 10.22034/APJCP.2017.18.4.1063. PMID: 28547942; PMCID: PMC5494217

4. Doing a skin check? Confidence is key & social media ads may help. News Release. Lewis & Clark College. June 24, 2024. Accessed June 24, 2024. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1049130