Skin cancer prevention and early detection intentions and behavior

Am J Prev Med. 1995 Jan-Feb;11(1):59-65.

Abstract

This longitudinal study examined predictors of (1) skin cancer prevention and early detection intentions and (2) compliance with recommendation for medical follow-up for suspicious skin lesions. Subjects were 324 hospital employees who were at increased risk for skin cancer and who participated in a worksite skin cancer screening program. Based on behavioral self-regulation theory and the Health Belief Model, multivariate analyses showed that optimism, perceived risk, reasons for doing skin self-examination (SSE), and SSE frequency prior to screening were the best predictors of intentions to engage in future health promotion behaviors (i.e., monthly SSE, regular sunscreen use, and participation in a skin cancer screening program the following year). Although our results also showed that optimism, reasons for doing SSE, and SSE frequency were the best predictors of compliance with medical follow-up, these three variables accounted for only a small amount of the variance in compliance with recommended follow-up care.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Health Behavior*
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / methods
  • Mass Screening / statistics & numerical data
  • Patient Compliance
  • Personnel, Hospital* / psychology
  • Risk Factors
  • Self-Examination
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Skin Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Sunscreening Agents / therapeutic use
  • Texas

Substances

  • Sunscreening Agents