What motivates men age ≥ 50 years to participate in a screening program for melanoma?

Abstract

Background: The screening behaviour and screening outcomes of men ≥ 50 years was investigated within a randomized controlled trial of a community-based intervention of screening for melanoma, consisting of a community education program, an education program for medical practitioners and the provision of dedicated skin screening clinics.
Methods: Data from cross-sectional telephone surveys before (559 completed interviews); at the end (591 completed interview); and at 2 year after the intervention (445 completed interviews) were analysed. In addition, we analysed data from skin screening clinics within the intervention program (3,355 men ≥ 50 years participated).
Results: During the intervention period men ≥ 50 years increased both their screening behaviour and intention to screen. Those men ≥ 50 years who reported a past history of removal of a mole as well as other risk factors for skin cancer and positive attitudes towards screening were more likely to participate in skin screening across time. Men ≥ 50 years accounted for 20.5% of all skin screening clinic attendees, 31.3% of those referred for a suspicious lesion, 48.5% of melanomas, and 45% of all Keratinocyte Carcinomas diagnosed within the screening program, respectively.
Conclusions: The intervention program successfully motivated men ≥ 50 years to attend screening for skin cancer, resulting in the highest yield of skin cancer within this subgroup of the population. Messages addressing skin cancer risk factors and attitudes towards skin cancer and screening could be used to target a screening program for melanoma towards men ≥ 50 years.