Does knowledge influence melanoma-prone behavior? Awareness, exposure, and sun protection among five social groups.

PURPOSE/
OBJECTIVES: To examine melanoma-related knowledge, sun exposure, and sun protection to determine whether increased awareness is associated with a reduction in risk.
DESIGN: Quantitative/empiricist study conducted by purpose- designed mailed questionnaire. PARTICIPANTS: Consultant oncologists at one teaching hospital in London, England; specialist registrars (oncologists in training) contacted through a London-based educational group; oncology-trained nursing staff from oncology departments at two London teaching hospitals; medical students; general (nononcology) nurses; and members of the lay public from one London teaching hospital.
SETTING: Two teaching hospitals in London, both registered cancer centers that possess specialist departments of oncology and are staffed by clinical and medical oncologists.
METHODS: Anonymous, self-completion, mailed questionnaire. RESEARCH VARIABLES: Sun exposure; use of sun protection and avoidance; knowledge of the biologic effects of sun exposure, moles, and malignant melanoma; melanoma-prone behavior.
FINDINGS: No significant differences were found in sun exposure or melanoma-prone behavior across the five groups studied. No correlation existed between knowledge and melanoma-prone behavior. Differences in knowledge and protection scores were demonstrated across all groups and were statistically significant, but they did not translate into changes in exposure or behavior scores.
CONCLUSIONS: Public health policy that seeks to reduce the incidence of melanoma is based on the false premise that increasing awareness of melanoma risk will reduce melanoma-prone behavior. Increasing awareness of the risks of sun exposure may improve the use of sun protection, but it does not reduce melanoma-prone behavior, even among specialist healthcare professionals. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: This study provides a new epidemiologic tool for nurses working in the specialty.