Psychosocial factors associated with skin self-exam performance.

OBJECTIVE

The authors examined psychosocial factors associated with skin self-exam (SSE) performance by young adults.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

The authors administered surveys to 218 US college students (aged 18-26 years) attending a large midwestern university.

RESULTS

Contrary to prior research, men (44%) and women (49%) were relatively similar in the frequency with which they performed at least 1 SSE in the previous year. In addition, neither gender was particularly diligent at checking all 6 areas of the body (ie, arms or hands, front torso, head or neck, legs or feet, back torso, and sides or armpits); they especially overlooked body areas identified by dermatologists as high risk. For men, a behavioral belief (do not think about performing) and a normative belief (descriptive norm) significantly predicted SSE performance. For women, 2 behavioral beliefs (do not think about performing, do not know what to look for), a normative belief (descriptive norm), and bodily discomfort (uncomfortable looking at body) significantly predicted SSE performance.

CONCLUSIONS

SSE campaigns should target awareness, symptoms to look for, descriptive norms, and bodily discomfort. In addition, health communicators should encourage men and women to more thoroughly examine high-risk areas of their bodies, which are routinely overlooked.