Background: Renal transplant recipients (RTRs) are at high-risk of developing aggressive and potentially lethal non-melanoma skin cancer, which emphasizes the need for consistent sun protective behaviour.
Objective: To identify factors that exert an influence on the sun protective behaviour of RTRs.
Methods: A total of 10 RTRs were individually interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide (five women, five men). The interviews were conducted in Copenhagen in June 2008. Transcriptions of the interviews were subsequently analyzed using predefined concepts from the Health Belief Model.
Results: The major result was the finding that patients did not perceive the threat of skin cancer as an important health problem and, therefore, did not give a high priority to sun protection, even though patients were aware of their increased risk of developing skin cancer. Moreover, negative individual attitudes towards the use of sunscreens and wearing hats were barriers against efficient sun protective behaviour.
Conclusions: This study shows that the Health Belief Model can be used to identify and describe factors that influence decisions and behaviour among RTRs regarding sun protective behaviour. We recommend that RTRs are informed about the potential severity of skin cancer, and about the importance of consistent sun protective behaviour.