[Primary and secondary prevention of skin cancer in rural areas : A cross-sectional study in the Bavarian Forest].

BACKGROUND

Skin cancer is the most common malignancy of the fair-skinned population worldwide. To reduce skin cancer's burden primary and secondary prevention are critical. However, various studies indicate an inadequate prevention behavior among rural populations.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the risk and prevention behavior with respect to skin cancer and to identify subgroups in rural areas with specific need for prevention efforts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In a cross-sectional study carried out in the first quarter of 2017, patients and their accompanying persons (≥18 years) were interviewed on the subject of primary and secondary prevention in waiting rooms of nondermatological medical practices in the Bavarian Forest, Germany. Data were collected using paper-based questionnaires. Associations were calculated using logistic regression models.

RESULTS

In all, 880 persons (57.7% women, mean age = 49.5 years) were included in the analysis, of whom 53.6% had undergone a skin cancer screening at least once before. Sunscreen was the most frequently used sun protection measure. Male sex and being 18-34 years of age were significantly associated with not using prevention measures (depending on the measure: odds ratio [OR]: 1.4-2.4 and 1.8-3.7, respectively). In addition, not using skin cancer screening was associated with UV exposure more than 6 h daily in summer (OR: 1.8, 95%-CI [confidence interval]: 1.14-2.97).

CONCLUSION

Future prevention strategies should increasingly focus on young adults, on men and people with high solar UV exposition particularly, to reduce the burden of skin cancer in rural areas.