Barriers to risk-understanding and risk-reduction behaviors among individuals with a family history of melanoma.

Family members of melanoma patients are often called upon to provide support, ranging from monetary to medical assistance. Consanguineal relatives of melanoma patients are also at greater risk of developing the disease themselves. However, as a group, they have limited understanding of their melanoma risk and they demonstrate inadequate primary and secondary prevention behaviors. The optimal intervention strategies for improving the consistent use of such behaviors (i.e., improving rates of sun-protection behaviors and screening) remains unclear, necessitating further research.