A measure of skin familiarity and its role in the early detection of skin cancer

K P Balanda; W R Stanton; P D Baade; John B Lowe; A M Clavarino

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A measure of skin familiarity and its role in the early detection of skin cancer

Journal article

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A measure of skin familiarity and its role in the early detection of skin cancer

K P Balanda, W R Stanton, P D Baade, John B Lowe and A M Clavarino

Cancer Detection and Prevention, Vol.24(2), pp.156-162

2000

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Abstract

Oncology and Carcinogenesis

early detection

skin familiarity

skin self-examination

Skin self-examination (SSE) is promoted widely so that individuals will become familiar with their skin and be better able to identify suspicious changes earlier. However, individuals can also become familiar with their skin other than through purposeful SSE. In this article, we develop a measure of skin familiarity based on the density of spots on 14 different areas of the body. A factor analysis of the 14 body-area scores revealed that they could be grouped into four broad body regions (shoulders and back, front of legs, back of legs, and feet). Each total body score and body-region score has high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranging from 0.79 to 0.93). Moreover, the scores correlate as expected with skin self-examination behaviors and other personal characteristics, indicating high construct validity. We consider the advantages that skin familiarity measures offer over the exclusive use of SSE measures in the assessment of early detection activities and discuss the direction of future research in this area.

Details

Title: A measure of skin familiarity and its role in the early detection of skin cancer
Authors: K P Balanda (Author) - University of Queensland
W R Stanton (Author) - University of Queensland
P D Baade (Author) - University of Queensland
John B Lowe (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health and Education
A M Clavarino (Author)
Publication details: Cancer Detection and Prevention, Vol.24(2), pp.156-162
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.
Date published: 2000
ISSN: 0361-090X
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449654502621
Output Type: Journal article

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