Monica S Tsai1, Melvin W Chiu2. 1. Division of Dermatology, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, California. 2. Division of Dermatology, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, California. Electronic address: mchiu@mednet.ucla.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Acral lentiginous melanomas compose a higher proportion of melanomas and have a higher mortality in ethnic minorities than in whites. Early detection by acral surface inspection during skin examinations may lead to improved acral lentiginous melanoma outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study compared patient-reported frequencies of acral skin examinations in ethnic and white populations. METHODS: Written surveys were collected from 1040 dermatology clinic patients. RESULTS: More whites reported performing self-skin examinations than ethnic minorities (P < .01), but there was no difference in the rates of hand (P = .7) or foot (P = .87) inspection during self-skin examination between whites and ethnic minorities. More whites (77.5%) than ethnic minorities (38.9%) reported having undergone a full-body skin examination (FBSE) from a health care provider (P < .01). During their most recent FBSE by a health care provider, more whites than ethnic minorities reported having their hands examined (P = .02), but there was no difference in reported hand inspection (P = .06) at any previous FBSE or foot inspection at any (P = .07) or the most recent (P = .59) FBSE between whites and ethnic minorities. LIMITATIONS: Single-center study using a new unvalidated survey is a limitation. CONCLUSION: Whites were found to more frequently report self-skin examination and FBSE than ethnic minorities, but significant differences in reported acral examinations were not detected.
BACKGROUND:Acral lentiginous melanomas compose a higher proportion of melanomas and have a higher mortality in ethnic minorities than in whites. Early detection by acral surface inspection during skin examinations may lead to improved acral lentiginous melanoma outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study compared patient-reported frequencies of acral skin examinations in ethnic and white populations. METHODS: Written surveys were collected from 1040 dermatology clinic patients. RESULTS: More whites reported performing self-skin examinations than ethnic minorities (P < .01), but there was no difference in the rates of hand (P = .7) or foot (P = .87) inspection during self-skin examination between whites and ethnic minorities. More whites (77.5%) than ethnic minorities (38.9%) reported having undergone a full-body skin examination (FBSE) from a health care provider (P < .01). During their most recent FBSE by a health care provider, more whites than ethnic minorities reported having their hands examined (P = .02), but there was no difference in reported hand inspection (P = .06) at any previous FBSE or foot inspection at any (P = .07) or the most recent (P = .59) FBSE between whites and ethnic minorities. LIMITATIONS: Single-center study using a new unvalidated survey is a limitation. CONCLUSION: Whites were found to more frequently report self-skin examination and FBSE than ethnic minorities, but significant differences in reported acral examinations were not detected.
Authors: Joanne F Aitken; Monika Janda; Mark Elwood; Philippa H Youl; Ian T Ring; John B Lowe Journal: J Am Acad Dermatol Date: 2005-11-28 Impact factor: 11.527
Authors: Jason A Zell; Pelin Cinar; Mehrdad Mobasher; Argyrios Ziogas; Frank L Meyskens; Hoda Anton-Culver Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2008-01-01 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: Sean J Upshaw; Jakob D Jensen; Elizabeth A Giorgi; Manusheela Pokharel; Helen M Lillie; Dallin R Adams; Kevin K John; Yelena P Wu; Douglas Grossman Journal: J Behav Med Date: 2022-09-20
Authors: Shirin Bajaj; Zachary J Wolner; Stephen W Dusza; Ralph P Braun; Ashfaq A Marghoob; Jennifer DeFazio Journal: Dermatol Pract Concept Date: 2019-04-30