Skin Cancer Awareness and Sun Protection Behavior Before and Following Treatment Among Skin Cancer-Treated Patients

Risk factors and early prevention of skin cancer in rural older outdoor workers: A scoping review

Skin cancer risk increases with age and prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR), particularly in rural geographical locations and for individuals with light skin complexions. However, the impact of UVR-induced skin cancer risk and sun-protective behaviors in rural older populations working outdoors has yet to be explored. A scoping review was conducted to fill this gap, with 12 articles meeting the inclusion criteria of aged 50 years and older among rural outdoor workers. Skin cancer risk factors, prevention strategies, and barriers to sun-protective behaviors were summarized for each study. The scoping review addressed some key differences in age-related effects of UVR among rural older outdoor workers compared to studies among adults in general. Findings have policy and research implications that highlight the need to design feasible preventive strategies to reduce rural disparities in cancer care and enhance access to preventive services for this high-risk population.

The Communal Sense on Skin Cancer and Sun Knowledge and Behavior on an Island with Four Seasons of Sun

Purpose: This study aims to determine the relationship between skin cancer and sun knowledge and sun protection behavior of adults living in Dikmen region. Methods: The type of research was cross-sectional. From the population served by the primary health care center (N=1078) located in Dikmen region, the sample of n=284 individuals who applied to the health center while the study was being conducted and volunteered to participate in the study were taken. The data were collected with the 'Socio-Demographic data form', 'Fitzpatrick Skin Type Scale', 'Skin Cancer and Sun Information Scale' and 'Sun Protection Behavior Scale'. Frequency, percentage, mean, Independent t Test, One-way Anova and Pearson Correlation Test were used for data analysis. Results: Participants had the mean age of 49.04±17.65 and 53.2% of them were female. When the skin types of participants were examined according to the Fitzparick classification, it was found that 32.7% of them had average skin color and there were no individuals with very dark/black skin. The 'Skin cancer and sun knowledge scale' of the participants were determined as 12.88±2.51 (min:7.0; max:21.0). The total mean score of the participants in the 'Sun protection behavior scale' was 23.67±6.84 (min:8.0; max:40.0). A positive, weak, statistically valuable relationship was realized between the participants' overall mean score of the 'Skin Cancer and Sun Information Scale' and the total mean score of the 'Sun Protection Behavior Scale' (p

Electrospinning: New Strategies for the Treatment of Skin Melanoma

Recent studies have shown a significant growth of skin cancer cases in northern regions of the world, in which its presence was not common. Skin cancer is one of the cancers that mostly affects the world's population, ranking fifth in studies conducted in the United States (USA). Melanoma is cancer that has the highest number of deaths worldwide since it is the most resistant skin cancer to current treatments. This is why alternatives for its treatment has been investigated considering nanomedicine concepts. This study approaches the role of this field in the creation of promising electrospun devices, composed of nanoparticles and nanofibers, among other structures, capable of directing and/or loading active drugs and/or materials with the objective of inhibiting the growth of melanoma cells or even eliminating those cells.

Can adopting skin cancer preventive behaviors among seafarers be increased via a theory-based mobile phone-based text message intervention? A randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

One of the main occupational hazards for seafarers is the long exposure to sunlight. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of a mobile phone-based text message intervention in adopting skin cancer preventive behaviors among a sample of seafarers in Genaveh port located in Bushehr province, Iran.

METHODS

In this randomized controlled trial, 136 seafarers were randomly selected and assigned to the intervention (n = 68) or a control groups (n = 68). As a theoretical basis, we followed the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) variables to develop the text messages. The data related to PMT variables and skin cancer preventive behaviors were collected through a questionnaire. Forty-five text messages were designed, pre-tested and sent to the seafarers' phones in the intervention group in 45 days. Both groups were followed up 1 month after the intervention. Data collected in the two stages were analyzed using paired-samples t-test, ANCOVA, and Chi-square tests.

RESULTS

Following the intervention, the mean scores of adopting skin cancer preventive behaviors (p = 0.001), perceived self-efficacy (p = 0.01), protection motivation (p = 0.02), and fear (p = 0.001) were significantly higher in the intervention group than the control group. There was significant reduction in the response costs (p = 0.05) and perceived rewards (p = 0.01) scores in the intervention group compared with the control group after the intervention. However, there were no significant differences in the perceived vulnerability (p = 0.14), perceived severity (p = 0.09), and response efficacy (p = 0.64) between the two groups after the intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the study indicated the effectiveness of mobile phone-based text message intervention for increasing skin cancer preventive behaviors in Iranian seafarers.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Iranian Registry for Clinical Trial (the link to trial: https://www.irct.ir/trial/7572 ). Registered 16 July, 2016. Prospectively registered.

Preventing Skin Cancer Among Staff and Guests at Seaside Hotels

Beach users and outdoor workers in resort areas are major risk groups for skin cancer, and therefore seaside hotels constitute a strategic area in which to conduct awareness-raising campaigns and interventions. The main aim of the present study is to describe habits, attitudes and knowledge related to sun exposure, the sunburn events experienced and potentially malignant skin lesions observed among hotel staff and guests recruited during a skin cancer prevention campaign at seaside hotels in the western Costa del Sol (southern Spain). This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at four seaside hotels in the western Costa del Sol. An 8-day awareness-raising campaign on skin cancer was conducted for hotel guests and staff, who were invited to complete a questionnaire about their habits, attitudes and knowledge regarding photoprotection, and to receive a comprehensive skin examination. The questionnaire on habits, attitudes and knowledge related to sun exposure was completed by 542 participants. The most common photoprotection practice was the use of sunglasses (79.3%). Potentially dangerous lesions were identified in 39 persons (14%). In addition, 94.0% reported having gained new knowledge, 89.6% had changed their attitudes towards sun tanning and 94.7% intended to improve their photoprotection practices in the future. Seaside hotels are an optimal scenario for conducting studies aimed at skin cancer prevention and reduction. Further studies should be carried out in other geographical areas to confirm our results, to evaluate the costs and benefits of such interventions and determine their long-term impact on health.