Dataset Information

Prevalence and correlates of skin self-examination practices among cutaneous malignant melanoma survivors.

ABSTRACT: Melanoma patients are at elevated risk for recurrence of the primary cancer as well as second primary melanomas. Regular skin self-examination (SSE) is recommended as part of follow-up surveillance. In this study, we examined SSE performance and comprehensiveness as well as knowledge and attitudinal correlates of SSE performance and comprehensiveness. Four hundred forty-one melanoma survivors completed measures of SSE performance as well as knowledge and attitudes about SSE and melanoma. Approximately two-thirds of the sample reported having conducted an SSE in the past two months; the average number of body parts examined was 10.64 (out of 15 maximum). Only 7.5% of the sample checked all 15 body parts. Greater worry about recurrence, fewer barriers to SSE, more planning for when to conduct SSE, and more confidence in the ability to conduct SSE and recognize a suspicious growth were associated with both SSE performance and greater SSE comprehensiveness. Physician influence was positively associated with SSE performance. Survivor education efforts may benefit from reminding survivors to check hard-to-see and sensitive areas, develop a plan for how to ask for assistance in conducting exams, as well as use mirrors to see hard-to-reach areas. Addressing perceived SSE barriers, fostering SSE planning, and improving SSE self-efficacy may be important foci for intervention efforts to enhance SSE performance and comprehensiveness.

SUBMITTER: Manne SL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7240727 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Prevalence and correlates of skin self-examination practices among cutaneous malignant melanoma survivors.

Manne Sharon L SL Heckman Carolyn J CJ Kashy Deborah D Lozada Carolina C Gallo Joseph J Ritterband Lee L Coups Elliot J EJ

Preventive medicine reports 20200501

Melanoma patients are at elevated risk for recurrence of the primary cancer as well as second primary melanomas. Regular skin self-examination (SSE) is recommended as part of follow-up surveillance. In this study, we examined SSE performance and comprehensiveness as well as knowledge and attitudinal correlates of SSE performance and comprehensiveness. Four hundred forty-one melanoma survivors completed measures of SSE performance as well as knowledge and attitudes about SSE and melanoma. Approxi ...[more]

PMID: 32461880

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Project description:Background Melanoma incidence has quadrupled since 1970 and melanoma is now the second most common cancer in individuals under 50. Targeted immunotherapies for melanoma now potentially enable long-term remission even in advanced melanoma, but these melanoma survivors require ongoing surveillance, with implications for NHS resources and significant social and psychological consequences for patients. Total skin self-examination (TSSE) can detect recurrence earlier and improve clinical outcomes but is underperformed in the UK. To support survivors, the Achieving Self-directed Integrated Cancer Aftercare (ASICA) intervention was developed to prompt and improve TSSE performance, with subsequent reporting of concerns and submission of skin photos to a Dermatology Nurse Practitioner (DNP). ASICA was delivered as a randomized pilot trial. Methods This paper reports on process evaluation. Data on participants’ demographics and the concerns they reported during the trial were tabulated and displayed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS. We explored which participants used ASICA, and how frequently, to report any skin concerns. We also determined how the interactions had worked in terms of quality of skin photographs submitted, clinical assessments made by the DNP, and the assessments and decisions made for each concern. Finally, we explored significant events occurring during the trial. Data on participants’ demographics and the concerns they reported during the trial were tabulated and displayed using SPSS. A semi-structured interview was undertaken with the DNP to gain perspective on the range of concerns presented and how they were resolved. Results Of 121 recruited melanoma patients receiving ASICA for 12 months, 69 participants submitted a total of 123 reports detailing 189 separate skin-related concerns and including 188 skin photographs. Where participants fully complied with follow-up by the DNP, concerns were usually resolved remotely, but 19 (10.1%) were seen at a secondary care clinic and 14 (7.4%) referred to their GP. 49 (25.9%) of concerns were not completely resolved due to partial non-compliance with DNP follow-up. Conclusion Melanoma patients randomized to the ASICA intervention were able to report skin-related concerns that could be resolved remotely through interaction with a DNP. Feasibility issues highlighted by ASICA will support further development and optimization of this digital tool. Trial registration Clinical Trials.gov, NCT03328247. Registered on 1 November 2017

Project description:ImportanceSkin self-examination (SSE) is a key factor in the early detection of melanoma, and many new and recurrent melanomas are first detected by patients themselves or their family members.ObjectiveTo explore the views of patients with melanoma regarding SSE in general, as well as their attitudes toward using novel digital technologies to support their own SSE.Design, setting, and participantsQualitative study with semistructured interviews that were conducted from June 20 to December 12, 2016, with 37 individuals in Sydney, Australia, who were previously treated for a first primary localized melanoma during 2014 and had not had a recurrence or new primary melanoma in the time since treatment.Main outcomes and measuresPatients' views and experiences, analyzed thematically.ResultsA total of 37 patients (11 women and 26 men; median age, 67 years [interquartile range, 59.5-72 years]) were interviewed. Participants perceived SSE as important for the early identification of local recurrence or new primary melanomas. Despite this belief, participants did not report undertaking full-body SSE on a regular basis. Factors that influenced their low engagement in thorough SSE included lack of self-efficacy, reliance on clinician consultations as the primary means of melanoma detection, and fear of cancer recurrence. Regarding the use of digital technology to assist with SSE, the key motivating factors in favor of such tools were the ability to track changes in lesions over time and the use of automated reminders to undertake SSE. Deterrents included a lack of confidence in undertaking SSE and in using new technology.Conclusions and relevancePatients with melanoma are aware of the importance of thorough skin examinations. However, a lack of confidence in their ability to undertake SSE and reliance on clinicians as the primary means of melanoma detection may inhibit patients from undertaking regular and thorough SSE. Patients may benefit from new digital technologies that assist them in undertaking SSE, provided they have appropriate education and technical support.

Project description:Perturbations in microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles has been reported for cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM). With regards to a rapidly growing number of newly discovered miRNA sequences, the availability of up-to-date miRNA expression profiles for primary cutaneous malignant melanoma (PCMM), cutaneous malignant melanoma metastases (CMMM) and benign melanocytic naevi (BMN) is limited. Patients with PCMM (n=9), CMMM (n=4) and BMN (n=8) were included in the study. Specimens were obtained during surgery from the center of the tumors (lesional). An exploratory microarray analysis was performed by miRNA expression profiling based on miRBase V.16. Additionally, the expression levels of selected miRNA candidates were confirmed by TaqMan real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). New miRNA candidates previously not described to be associated with CMM were found to be potentially dysregulated in CMM. Nine patients with PCMM (PCMM1-PCMM9), four patients with CMMM (CMMM1-CMMM4) and eight patients with BMN (BMN1-BMN8) were enrolled in the present study. All cutaneous specimens were harvested in the operating room, immediately stored in RNAlater (Quiagen, Hilden, Germany) and kept at - 80 °C until RNA isolation. Total RNA including miRNAs was isolated using the miRNeasy Mini Kit (Quiagen, Hilden, Germany) according to the manufacturer’s protocol. RNA concentration and purity was determined by NanoDrop ND-1000 spectral photometer (Peqlab, Erlangen, Germany). RNA integrity control (RIN) was determined by means of capillary electrophoresis with the 2100 Bioanalyzer and the RNA 6000 NanoLabCHip Kits (both Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, USA). To be further considered for Microarray analysis a RIN ≥ 7.0 indicating medium to good RNA quality was defined as inclusion criteria. For assessment of labeling and hybridization efficiencies total RNA samples were spiked with in-vitro synthesized oligonucleotides by using the MicroRNA Spike-In Kit (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, USA). A total of 100 ng total RNA per sample were introduced into a labeling reaction. The spiked total RNA was treated with alkaline calf intestine phosphatase (CIP). The dephosphorylated RNA was labeled with the miRNA Complete Labeling and Hyb Kit (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, USA) according to the manufacturer´s instructions using T4 RNA ligase, incorporating Cyanine 3-Cytidine biphosphate (pCp). The Cyanine-3-labeled miRNA samples were prepared for One-Color based hybridization with Complete miRNA Labeling and Hyb Kit (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, USA) according to the manufacturer´s instructions. Labeled miRNA samples were hybridized at 55°C for 20 hrs on separate Human miRNA Microarrays Release 16.0 (8x60K format, (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, USA). Afterwards, microarrays were washed with increasing stringency using Gene Expression Wash Buffers (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, USA) followed by drying with acetonitrile (Sigma-Aldich, St.Louis, USA). Fluorescent signal intensities were detected with Scan Control A.8.4.1 Software (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, USA) on the Agilent DNA Microarray Scanner and extracted from the images using Feature Extraction 10.7.3.1 Software (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, USA). All the steps described were carried out according to the manufacturer´s instructions.

Dataset Information

Prevalence and correlates of skin self-examination practices among cutaneous malignant melanoma survivors.

Publications

Prevalence and correlates of skin self-examination practices among cutaneous malignant melanoma survivors.

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