Need for patient education and better physician-patient communication in melanoma patients: Behaviors and knowledge of melanoma patients
Journal Title: Turkderm-Turkish Archives of Dermatology and Venereology - Year 2021, Vol 55, Issue 1
Abstract
Background and Design: Melanoma is a serious type of cancer. Patients previously diagnosed with melanoma are at an increased risk of a second melanoma. Therefore, it is important to know and apply preventive measures. This study aimed to examine melanoma patients’ behaviors of sun protection and skin self-examination (SSE), knowledge on risk factors, and communication with their physicians about the disease. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 65 melanoma patients to assess knowledge of melanoma and sun protection and determine SSE attitudes and patient-physician communication. Results: Sun exposure was a well-known melanoma risk factor (67.7%), but the knowledge level on other risk factors, especially regarding skin, hair, and eye color phenotypes, was low (between, 21.5% and 36.9%). Sunscreen use practice was insufficient (33.8%) and mostly inadequate. The most commonly reported reason for not using sunscreen was not having a habit of sunscreen use (83.7%). Compliance with other sun protection behaviors was variable. Half (50.8%) of the melanoma patients reported that they perform SSE. The most commonly reported reasons for not performing SSE was not knowing its necessity (71.8%). More than one-third (35%) of patients stated that they did not receive information about melanoma from their physicians. Almost all patients who received information from their physicians were informed verbally, and only 4% received written information. Conclusion: Our study highlights the need for a comprehensive education for patients about all aspects of melanoma and strategies to improve patient-physician communication. Barriers to preventive behaviors in melanoma patients may be determined in more detail in larger future studies and the content of education may be planned accordingly.
Authors and Affiliations
Sezgi Sarıkaya Solak, Haydar Yöndem, İrfan Çiçin
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP693490
- DOI 10.4274/turkderm.galenos.2020.44538
- Views 84
- Downloads 0
The efficacy of omalizumab therapy in chronic spontaneous urticaria: A retrospective analysis
Background and Design: Omalizumab is recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to immunoglobulin E (IgE). It inhibits the activation of IgE by binding to the effector cell, thereby inhibiting the release of ce...
A case of temporal triangular alopecia
Temporal triangular alopecia (TTA) is a non-cicatricial alopecia characterized by an alopecic patch, usually located in the frontotemporal region, unilateral or bilateral, with an oval or narrow triangular base and no te...
Pigmented fungiform papillae of the tongue: Co-existence of two patterns in the same patient and associated dental pigmentation
This report presents a case of pigmented fungiform papillae of the tongue (PFPT) in a 12-year-old girl. She had type 1 and 2 PFPT. Diffuse, patchy tongue pigmentation seen in our patient might be a racial pigmentation or...
Would you mind doing some modifications to the classical rhombic flap?
Abstract(s)*
The effectiveness of İstanbul Occupational Diseases Hospital on employer attitude and worker’s health in terms of occupational skin diseases
Background and Design: To examine the effectiveness of İstanbul Occupational Diseases Hospital on employer attitude and worker’s health in terms of occupational skin diseases and also to investigate the prognosis of occu...