The association between counseling, sun protection, and early detection of skin cancer in middle-aged Israelis

Abstract

Background: Healthcare professionals’ counseling is expected to prompt primary and secondary prevention of skin cancer. In this study, we evaluated the association between counseling on skin cancer prevention and early detection and the recommended behaviors in middle-aged people. Methods: A random national cross-sectional telephone survey of 793 Israeli residents, aged 45–75 years, was conducted. The interviewees reported healthcare professionals’ counseling and self-reported behaviors associated with sun protection and early detection of skin cancer. Results: Counseling on sun protection was reported by less than 10% of respondents. The presence of self-reported skin-cancer risk factors was significantly associated both with sun protection counseling and behavior. However, there was no association between sun protection counseling and behavior in a regression model. The rate of counseling on self-skin examination among respondents with self-reported skin-cancer risk factors was 17%. Early detection behaviors were significantly associated with practitioner’s counseling on this issue. Conclusion: Healthcare professionals’ counseling on secondary skin cancer prevention seems to have a greater impact on behaviors than primary prevention counseling in middle-aged people and calls for improvement of primary prevention by health care professionals.