A/Prof. Zaw Thet1,2, Alfred Lam1,3,4, Shu-Kay Ng1, Soe Yu Aung3,6, Thin Han2,3, Dwarakanathan Ranganathan1,5, Stephanie Newsham2, Jennifer Borg2, Christine Pepito2, Tien Khoo1,7
1School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Australia, 2Department of Nephrology, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Australia, 3Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Australia, 4Pathology Queensland, Gold Coast University Hospital, ,Australia, 5Department of Nephrology, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Australia, 6Department of Oncology, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Autralia, 7School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Autralia
Aims: To determine the effect of an integrated skin cancer education program on skin cancer awareness and sun-protective behaviours in patients with glomerular disease (GD) treated with long-term immunosuppressants
Background: Sun-protective strategies focusing on skin cancer awareness are needed in immunosuppressed patients at risk of skin cancers.
Methods: A pilot prospective cohort study in Central Queensland was undertaken among adult patients with GD, who completed survey questionaries on skin cancer and sun-health knowledge (SCSK), sun-protection practices and skin examination pre- and post-education.
Results: 25 patients participated in the study. All participants completed questionnaires at pre-education, 3-month and 92%(n=23) at 6-month post-education. The mean age of all participants was 61 years (standard deviation, SD=15.3 years) and 52% were male. 88% of all participants were Caucasians and 36% had a history of skin cancer. There was a significant increase in SCSK scores from baseline at 3-months (19.0 [SD 3.5] vs 20.2 [SD 3.4], p=0.039) and 6-months post-intervention (19.0 [SD 3.5] vs 20.9 [SD 1.9], p=0.004). The frequency of outdoor activities and compliance with each sun protective practice did not change significantly pre- and post-education. Compared to baseline, the mean total number of sun-protective methods used also did not change significantly at 3-months (4.4 [SD 2.0] vs 4.0 [SD 2.3], p=0.268) and 6-months post-intervention (4.4 [SD 2.0] vs 4.2 [SD 2.2], p=0.842). Interventional education enhanced regular self-skin examination rate (p<0.001) and full skin checks by general practitioners (p<0.001).
Conclusions: An integrated skin cancer education program improved knowledge of skin cancer and sun health, self-skin examination and formal skin assessments by general practitioners. However, improvement in skin cancer awareness of patients did not extend to compliance with sun-protective practices.
Biography:
He is a full-time nephrologist who has a special interest in immunosuppressant related cancer risks in immunosuppressed renal patients.