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The first skin cancer screening day at the I talian parliament: a E uromelanoma initiative
Author(s) -
Suppa Mariano,
Neri Luca,
Bianchi Luca,
Capizzi Rodolfo,
Carbone Angelo,
Catricalà Caterina,
Chimenti Sergio,
Fargnoli Maria Concetta,
Fossati Barbara,
Frascione Pasquale,
Peris Ketty
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
international journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-4632
pISSN - 0011-9059
DOI - 10.1111/ijd.12677
Subject(s) - skin cancer , medicine , parliament , demographics , cancer , population , basal cell carcinoma , incidence (geometry) , public health , family medicine , environmental health , demography , basal cell , pathology , political science , physics , optics , sociology , politics , law
Background The effort to decrease incidence/mortality of skin cancer should target not only the general public but also politicians and decision makers, to create a proper health policy. We report the results of the first Skin Cancer Screening Day at the Italian Parliament, organized to draw politicians’ attention on skin cancer. Methods A questionnaire was used to collect data on participants’ characteristics and suspected skin cancers. Results We screened 70 members of parliament (61.4% males, median age 54 years). Overall skin cancer suspicion rate was 14.5%. Suspicion rate, detection rate, and positive predictive values for melanoma were respectively 1.6, 1.6, and 100%, and for basal cell carcinoma 6.5, 1.6, and 25%. Highly educated, <54‐year‐old females reported sun‐seeking behaviors. Conclusions The considerable suspicion rate produced by this screening is justified by the particular demographics of the study population. Italian members of parliament display sun‐seeking behaviors similar to those previously described in the general public. Increasing politicians’ attention on skin cancer is vital for sufficient resources to be allocated to prevention strategies. Expert medical groups and politicians should cooperate to create a proper, integrated policy on skin cancer.