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Nahar V, Wilkerson A, Ghafari G, Martin B, Black W, Boyas J, Savoy M, Bawa G, Stafford F, Scott M, Grigsby T, Gromley Z, Grant-Kels J, Brodell R. Skin cancer knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and prevention practices among medical students: A systematic search and literature review. Int J Womens Dermatol 2018; 4:139-149. [PMID: 30175215 PMCID: PMC6116816 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijwd.2017.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Revised: 10/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As future physicians, medical students will play an important role in the prevention of skin cancers by becoming directly involved in skin cancer prevention education and counseling patients about the hazards of ultraviolet light. OBJECTIVE We assessed the skin cancer-related knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and prevention practices reported in previous studies of medical students. METHODS The search for relevant articles was performed in four electronic databases: PubMed (Medline), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health, ERIC, and PsycINFO. Studies were included if they met the following criteria: 1) targeted medical students; 2) assessed sun avoidance, sun protection, skin self-examination, and/or indoor tanning behaviors; 3) were published in peer-reviewed journals; and 4) complete data were available for extraction. RESULTS A total of 21 studies are included in this review. Important findings include moderate-to-high levels of skin cancer knowledge and low levels of both sunscreen and ultraviolet light knowledge. The attitudes and knowledge of medical students reflect a low level of concern with regard to the perceived importance of skin cancer compared with other forms of cancer despite a high level of concern for the importance of skin cancer prevention. Furthermore, this review demonstrated that medical students fail to protect themselves routinely from the sun and have a high interest in tanning bed use. CONCLUSION This review demonstrates the need to educate medical students about skin cancer and skin cancer preventive behaviors. New strategies and educational campaigns should be developed to communicate better information on skin cancer morbidity, mortality, and prevention to medical students. This will pay dividends by improving the practice of these future physicians in all specialties.
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Affiliation(s)
- V.K. Nahar
- Center for Animal and Human Health in Appalachia, College of Veterinary Medicine, DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, and School of Mathematics and Sciences, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN
- Department of Dermatology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS
| | - A.H. Wilkerson
- Department of Health and Exercise Science, College of Arts and Sciences, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
| | - G. Ghafari
- DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN
| | - B. Martin
- DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN
| | - W.H. Black
- Department of Dermatology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS
| | - J.F. Boyas
- Department of Social Work, School of Applied Sciences, University of Mississippi, University, MS
| | - M. Savoy
- Dr. Lon and Elizabeth Parr Reed Health Sciences Library, DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, TN
| | - G. Bawa
- College of Naturopathic Medicine, University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT
| | - F.C. Stafford
- Aerospace/Occupational Medicine, U.S. Army School of Aviation Medicine, Enterprise, AL
| | - M. Scott
- DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN
| | - T.B. Grigsby
- Department of Health, Physical Education, and Exercise Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN
| | - Z. Gromley
- DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN
| | - J.M. Grant-Kels
- Department of Dermatology, University of Connecticut Health Center and School of Medicine, Farmington, CT
| | - R.T. Brodell
- Department of Dermatology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS
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