A pilot study examining skin cancer education in an underserved population at a free skin cancer screening

Background: Minority populations are increasingly diagnosed with skin cancer and often in later stages with more aggressive subtypes. Objective: We sought to pilot a study to evaluate the effectiveness of providing a skin cancer screening and education module to address potential barriers to dermato...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Herbert B. Castillo Valladares, MD (Author), Alison K. Lee, MD, MHS (Author), Shayan Cheraghlou, BA (Author), Amanda Zhou, BS (Author), Sarika Ramachandran, MD (Author)
Format: Book
Published: Wolters Kluwer, 2021-03-01T00:00:00Z.
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Summary:Background: Minority populations are increasingly diagnosed with skin cancer and often in later stages with more aggressive subtypes. Objective: We sought to pilot a study to evaluate the effectiveness of providing a skin cancer screening and education module to address potential barriers to dermatologic care for an underserved population in New Haven, Connecticut. Methods: At a free clinic, voluntary adults (n = 24) waiting for a skin cancer screening were recruited and consented to participate. Participants completed a 16-question survey prior to the total body-skin examination and the educational module, as well as a survey after the examination. Results: Most participants were uninsured (79%) and Hispanic (71%). Pre- and postintervention surveys indicated significant increases in knowledge, risk awareness, and confidence for self-screening. Conclusion: This study establishes an effective public health education intervention to promote the prevention of skin cancer. A multicenter study with a larger sample size and longer follow-up period to assess knowledge retention could further address limitations in this initial pilot study.
Item Description:2352-6475
10.1016/j.ijwd.2020.06.007