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A simple intervention to reinforce awareness of tanning bed use and skin cancer in non‐medical skin care professionals in Southern California
Author(s) -
Ng Angie T.,
Chang Anne Lynn S.,
Cockburn Myles,
Peng David H.
Publication year - 2012
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/j.1365-4632.2011.05425.x
Subject(s) - medicine , intervention (counseling) , skin cancer , skin care , cancer , family medicine , dermatology , melanoma , nursing , cancer research
Background (i) To assess the baseline knowledge of non‐medical skin care professionals (estheticians, cosmetologists, massage therapists) on tanning bed use and its association with melanoma; and (ii) to provide preliminary evidence of the potential impact of a fast and simple educational intervention on tanning beds and melanoma on the awareness of non‐medical skin care professionals towards skin cancer prevention. Methods A pre‐intervention survey was administered to non‐medical skin care professional at salons or spas in Southern California to assess baseline knowledge on tanning and skin cancer. This was followed immediately by a 10‐minute oral presentation on tanning bed use and its association with melanoma. One month later, a post‐intervention survey was distributed to individuals who attended the initial oral presentation. Results Significant changes pre‐ and post‐intervention were found in non‐medical skin care professionals’ answer responses to the following: (i) increased speaking to clients about cancer risk with tanning bed use 42–66% (OR 2.44; 95% CI 1.39, 4.30)]; (ii) decreased personal tanning bed use (23–15% [OR 0.61; 95% CI 0.37, 1.00]); and (iii) decreased belief that tanning beds are an excellent cosmetic tool (29–20% [OR 0.60; 95% CI 0.38, 0.96]). Conclusion This study provides preliminary evidence that non‐medical skin care professionals could be an important source of primary prevention information for reducing the burden of melanoma.