Practices and beliefs concerning screening family members of patients with melanoma: Results of a survey of New England dermatologists

Abstract

First-degree relatives of patients with melanoma are roughly two to eight times more likely than the general public to be diagnosed with melanoma. Several organizations recommend regular screening for these and other persons at high risk for melanoma. However, there are no data as to how frequently such persons receive skin cancer examinations. Our purpose was to determine the current screening recommendations and practices of dermatologists regarding family screening for melanoma. With a one-page questionnaire, we surveyed dermatologists attending a 1989 meeting of the New England Dermatological Society. Seventy-three dermatologists completed the questionnaire. Most dermatologists (70%) reported that they encouraged screening of family members of patients with melanoma but also reported that family members infrequently appeared for skin examinations. Although most dermatologists encouraged screening of first degree relatives of melanoma patients, there appears to be infrequent acceptance by the patient of these recommendations. Recording family screening in the patients' charts, reminders to patients, and distributing literature on familial melanoma may increase acceptance by the patient of these recommendations.