A Cross-Sectional Survey of Knowledge of Skin Cancer in Saudi Arabia

Connecting verified databases with clinical practice and the patient' s experience through omnichannel communication

INTRODUCTION

Patient-reported outcomes (PRO) collect data directly from patients. These data are utilized in clinical practice, helping decision-making. Studies emphasize the importance of omnichannel communication (WhatsApp, e-mail, SMS) with healthcare professionals and patients. Omnichannel communication enables the integration of different communication channels to improve the end-client experience. In addition to the means of communication, the daily practice of professionals requires different activities that can be performed in distinct systems. The existence of various separate systems for other activities in medical practice may result in complexities and bottlenecks in their use by healthcare professionals and patients.

OBJECTIVE

To present the Digital Health Ecosystem (DHE) that unifies scientific research with medical practice in omnichannel communication and mechanisms to verify the authenticity and integrity of the data collected and stored.

METHODOLOGY

The system requirements and needs were met utilizing the Iconix development methodology. Microsoft Dot Net was used to develop software. Usability, usefulness and user satisfaction with the system were measured using the Post-Study System Usability Questionnaire (PSSUQ).

RESULTS

Omnichannel communication was utilized to contact patients and healthcare professionals autonomously. A single system enabled the carrying out of patientreported outcome data collection, telemedicine, image storage, and notes from patient consultations. The data was collected through structured questionnaires via link and chatbot. The functionalities created in the HDE allowed the integrity and authenticity verification of the data collected and stored.

CONCLUSION

Personalized omnichannel communication via links and chatbots using WhatsApp, E-mail, and SMS accelerates autonomous interaction with patients and healthcare professionals. In addition, the structured and non-structured data were stored in the EHD and able to be verified for integrity and authenticity.

Assessment of prevalence of sunscreen use and related practices among people living in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional survey-based study

BACKGROUND

The use of sunscreen significantly reduces the risk of skin cancer and helps maintain skin health; however, improper use can decrease its effectiveness. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with sunscreen use in Saudi Arabia as well as identifying areas of weakness in sunscreen practices.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted with a diverse population sample in Saudi Arabia. Participants were asked about their sunscreen usage habits, motivations, and knowledge of proper application techniques. Demographic information, including age, gender, and skin type, were also collected.

RESULTS

A total of 2321 individuals participated in the study. More than two-thirds of the participants reported using sunscreen either always, regularly, or often, primarily to maintain a light skin color and prevent skin cancer. Factors associated with sunscreen use included younger age (18-40 years old), female gender, history of sunburn, and fair skin. Despite the majority reporting healthy sun exposure habits, several shortcomings were identified in sunscreen practices, including incorrect application and suboptimal reapplication frequency.

CONCLUSION

While sunscreen use is common among the study population, there is a need for improved education on proper application techniques. National awareness campaigns, especially those utilizing popular social media and digital platforms in Saudi Arabia, should focus on disseminating accurate sunscreen use guidelines to maximize sun protection and skin health.

The New Media Landscape and Its Effects on Skin Cancer Diagnostics, Prognostics, and Prevention: Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

The wide availability of web-based sources, including social media (SM), has supported rapid, widespread dissemination of health information. This dissemination can be an asset during public health emergencies; however, it can also present challenges when the information is inaccurate or ill-informed. Of interest, many SM sources discuss cancer, specifically cutaneous melanoma and keratinocyte cancers (basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma).

OBJECTIVE

Through a comprehensive and scoping review of the literature, this study aims to gain an actionable perspective of the state of SM information regarding skin cancer diagnostics, prognostics, and prevention.

METHODS

We performed a scoping literature review to establish the relationship between SM and skin cancer. A literature search was conducted across MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus from January 2000 to June 2023. The included studies discussed SM and its relationship to and effect on skin cancer.

RESULTS

Through the search, 1009 abstracts were initially identified, 188 received full-text review, and 112 met inclusion criteria. The included studies were divided into 7 groupings based on a publication's primary objective: misinformation (n=40, 36%), prevention campaign (n=19, 17%), engagement (n=16, 14%), research (n=12, 11%), education (n=11, 10%), demographics (n=10, 9%), and patient support (n=4, 3%), which were the most common identified themes.

CONCLUSIONS

Through this review, we gained a better understanding of the SM environment addressing skin cancer information, and we gained insight into the best practices by which SM could be used to positively influence the health care information ecosystem.

What do Patients Want to See on Social Media? Evidence From a Two-Year Experiment

INTRODUCTION

Dermatological information on social media is dominated by misleading and potentially harmful content from nonexperts. Literature suggests that, to address this issue, dermatologists should develop an online presence. However, the successful presence of dermatologists on social media has been criticized for focusing on cosmetic dermatology and not representing the broad spectrum of the specialty.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to systematically analyze which dermatological topics interest the public most, and to find out whether it is feasible for a dermatologist to become influential on social media while presenting all dermatological topics equally.

METHODS

The study was performed on an educational dermatology YouTube channel. The 101 videos published in a two-year period were divided into cosmetic (51 videos) and medical dermatology (50 videos). Student's t-test was conducted to determine whether there were significant differences in views. Medical dermatology videos were then classified into three categories: Acne, facial dermatoses (excluding acne) and other dermatological diseases. A Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare these three categories and cosmetic dermatology.

RESULTS

When comparing cosmetic and medical dermatology, no significant differences were found. When comparing the four categories, cosmetic dermatology and acne were found to generate significantly more views that other dermatological diseases.

CONCLUSIONS

The public seems to be particularly interested in cosmetic dermatology and acne. This might make it challenging to become successful on social media while presenting a balanced portrayal of dermatology. However, focusing on popular topics can provide a real chance to be influential and protect vulnerable people from misinformation.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice toward Skin Cancer Prevention and Detection among Jordanian Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction. Skin cancer is one of the most growing types of cancer, especially in the Mediterranean, even though it is a preventable disease. The purpose of this study is to assess medical students’ knowledge, attitude, and practice about skin cancer prevention and detection. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a validated structured questionnaire covering the areas of knowledge, attitude, and practice of the study participants. Results. The study involved 1530 students; 55.3% were females. Most of the students possessed proper knowledge about skin cancer (81%). The most prevalent skin cancer risk factors were sun exposure during the day (83.5%) and immunosuppression (71.2%). More than half of the students did not have any habits of skin examination (61.5%). 20% of the students never used sunscreen, while only 20% of them avoided sun exposure during day hours. Conclusion. The general level of the medical students’ knowledge of skin cancer and its risk factors appeared to be higher than what is found in other studies; it is reasonable as the study participants were medical students. However, the protective behavior from the sun was inadequate when compared to the level of knowledge reported. Additional education about the behavior toward sun exposure and protection against skin cancer may be needed to be implemented in the dermatology curriculum.