Patient Follow-Up After Participating in a Beach-Based Skin Cancer Screening Program

Mary L. Greaney, Elaine Puleo, Alan C. Geller, Stephanie W. Hu, Andrew E. Werchniak, Susan DeCristofaro and Karen M. Emmons
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Mary L. Greaney: Center for Community-Based Research, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
Elaine Puleo: Department of Public Health, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
Alan C. Geller: Department of Society, Human Development & Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Stephanie W. Hu: New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, 10016, USA
Andrew E. Werchniak: Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Susan DeCristofaro: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
Karen M. Emmons: Center for Community-Based Research, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA

IJERPH, 2012, vol. 9, issue 5, 1-10

Abstract: Many skin cancer screenings occur in non-traditional community settings, with the beach being an important setting due to beachgoers being at high risk for skin cancer. This study is a secondary analysis of data from a randomized trial of a skin cancer intervention in which participants (n = 312) had a full-body skin examination by a clinician and received a presumptive diagnosis (abnormal finding, no abnormal finding). Participants’ pursuit of follow-up was assessed post-intervention (n = 283). Analyses examined: (1) participant’s recall of screening results; and (2) whether cognitive and behavioral variables were associated with follow-up being as advised. Just 12% of participants (36/312) did not correctly recall the results of their skin examination. One-third (33%, 93/283) of participants’ follow-up was classified as being not as advised (recommend follow-up not pursued, unadvised follow-up pursued). Among participants whose follow-up was not as advised, 71% (66/93) did not seek recommended care. None of the measured behavioral and cognitive variables were significantly associated with recall of screening examination results or whether follow-up was as advised. Research is needed to determine what factors are associated with follow-up being as advised and to develop messages that increase receipt of advised follow-up care.

Keywords: cancer screening; skin cancer prevention; skin examinations; sun protection (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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