Skin Cancer Knowledge, Behaviors and Attitudes among Adults in Latvia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12970/2310-998X.2020.08.06Keywords:
Sun, awareness, melanoma, sun protection, prevention, sunscreen.Abstract
Background: One of the most preventable malignancies is skin cancer. Nevertheless, there has been a significant increase in the incidence of skin cancer throughout the world in the last few decades. The situation in Latvia is no exception - at the end of 2017, skin cancer was the most frequent diagnosis among malignant cancers.
Objective: Document the level of knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of adults concerning skin cancer and sun protection as well as to find statistically significant associations between all parameters investigated, the sociodemographic data and risk factors of skin cancer of the respondents.
Methods: The self – reported questionnaire form was used to evaluate knowledge, attitudes and behaviors among the survey sample.
Results: Total of 298 individuals fully completed questionnaires. The median score of knowledge was found to be ten with a total possible score of twenty. Majority of respondents (59.4%) got score less than or equal to ten. All sociodemographic factors and risk factors were analyzed, but the only significant associations were found between age and knowledge score, education level and knowledge score, occupation and knowledge scores. Further there were statistically significant associations between gender, age and sun protective behaviors.
Conclusion: Level of knowledge about skin cancer, attitude and sun protective behaviors are influenced by several factors including age, gender, educational level and occupation.
References
Cakir BÖ, Adamson P, Cingi C. Epidemiology and economic burden of nonmelanoma skin cancer. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am [Internet]. 2012 Nov [cited 2020 September 7]; 20(4), 419-422. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsc.2012.07.004
Alharbi AS, AlAfnan SS, Alamri MN, et al. Knowledge and self-examination practices of melanoma in the western region, Saudi Arabia. IJMDC [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2020 September 10]; 4(2): 435-440. https://doi.org/10.24911/IJMDC.51-1577048448
Curti BD, Leachman S, Urba WJ. Cancer of the Skin. In: Jameson J, Fauci AS, Kasper DL, Hauser SL, Longo DL, Loscalzo J. eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 20e. McGraw-Hill. 2018 [cited 2020 September 9].
World Health Organization [Internet]. 2017. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation and skin cancer. [cited 2020 September 9]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/ultraviolet-(uv)-radiation-and-skin-cancer
Bränström R, Kristjansson S, Dal H, Rodvall Y. Sun exposure and sunburn among Swedish toddlers. Eur J Cancer [Internet]. 2006 Jul [cited 10 September 2020]; 42(10), 1441-1447. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2006.02.008
Bray F, Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, Siegel RL, Torre LA, Jemal A. Global. Cancer Statistics 2018: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin, in press. [cited 11 September]. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21492
Lepiksone J, Baltāne Z, Bāliņa A, et al. Statistical yearbook of health care in Latvia 2018 [Internet]. Riga: Centre for Disease Prevention and Control of Latvia; 2018 [cited 2020 September 11]. Statistical yearbook of health care in Latvia 19th edition. 244 p. ISBN 978-9984-695-96-9
Kyle JW, Hammitt JK, Lim HW, et al. Economic evaluation of the US Environmental Protection Agency's SunWise program: sun protection education for young children. Pediatrics [Internet]. 2008 May [cited 2020 September 11]; 121(5), e1074-e1084. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2007-1400
Conic RZ, Cabrera CI, Khorana AA, Gastman BR. Determination of the impact of melanoma surgical timing on survival using the National Cancer Database. J Am Acad Dermatol [Internet]. 2018 Jan [cited 2020 September 11]; 78(1), 40-46.e7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2017.08.039
Yurtseven E, Ulus T, Vehid S, Köksal S, Bosat M, Akkoyun K. Assessment of knowledge, behaviour and sun protection practices among health services vocational school students. J Environ Res Public Health [Internet]. 2012 Jul [cited 2020 September 9]; 9(7), 2378-2385. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph9072378
Jackson A, Wilkinson C, Pill R. Moles and melanomas - who's at risk, who knows, and who cares? A strategy to inform those at high risk. Brit J Gen Pract [Inernet]. 1999 MAR [cited 2020 September 7]; 49:199-203.
Uslu M, Göksun K, Ekin S. Investigation of knowledge about sun effects, skin cancer and sun protection behaviour among doctors in Adnan Menderes Hospital. ADÜ Med. J [Internet]. 2006 [cited 2020 September 7]; 7: 5-10.
Kaymak Y, Tekbaş ÖF, Şimşek I. Knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of university students related to sun protection. Turkderm Deri Hastaliklari ve Frengi Arsivi [Internet]. 2007 [cited 2020 September 7]; 41. 81-85.
Cinar ND, Cinar S, Karakoc A, Ucar F. Knowledge, attitudes and behaviors concerning sun protection/skin cancer among adults in Turkey. Pak J Med Sci [Internet] 2009 [cited 2020 September 7]; 25(1):108-11.
Hobbs C, Nahar VK, Ford MA, Bass MA, Brodell RT. Skin cancer knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in collegiate athletes. J Skin Cancer [Internet]. 2014 [cited 2020 September 7]; 248198. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/248198
Centre for Disease Prevention and Control of Latvia. How to protect yourself from skin cancer? [Internet]. Riga: Centre for Disease Prevention and Control of Latvia; 2015 [cited 2020 September 9] Available from: https://www.spkc.gov.lv/lv/ necepies-pasarga-sevi-no-adas-veza/ka_pasargat_sevi_no_ adas_veza1.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2goBn68xqk1_qkjVNr8Ch7RcCA7qrOh2NpnUj_y2ijYSyy1rddVY-6bGw
Fitzpatrick TB. The validity and practicality of sun-reactive skin types I through VI. Arch Dermatol [Internet]. 1988 Jun [cited 2020 September 9]; 1988; 124(6): 869-871. https://doi.org/10.1001/archderm.124.6.869
Sendur N. Nonmelanoma skin cancer epidemiology and prevention. Turk Klinikleri J Int Med Sci 2005; 1: 80-4
Kricker A, Armstrong BK, English DR. Sun exposure and non-melanocytic skin cancer. Cancer Causes Control [Internet]. 1994 Jul [cited 2020 September 12]; 5(4): 367-92. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01804988
Rosso S, Zanetti R, Martinez C, et al. The multicentre south European study 'Helios'. II: Different sun exposure patterns in the aetiology of basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin. Br J Cancer [Internet]. 1996 Jun [cited 2020 September 12]; 73(11), 1447-1454. https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1996.275
Ergin A, Ali I, Mehmet B. Assessment of knowledge and behaviors of mothers with small children on the effects of the sun on health. Pam Med J 2011; 4(2): 72-8.
Campbell HS, Birdsell JM. Knowledge, beliefs, and sun protection behaviors of Alberta adults. Prev Med [Internet]. 1994 Mar [cited 2020 September 11]; 23(2): 160-166. https://doi.org/10.1006/pmed.1994.1022
Kristjánsson S, Ullén H, Helgason AR. The importance of assessing the readiness to change sun-protection behaviours: a population-based study. Eur J Cancer [Internet]. 2004 Dec [cited 2020 September 10]; 40(18): 2773-2780. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2004.08.027
Baron-Epel O, Azizi E. The association between counseling, sun protection, and early detection of skin cancer in middle-aged Israelis. Cancer Detect Prev. 2003 [cited 10 September 2020]; 27(5), 338-344. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0361-090X(03)00132-6
