New Studies Support Dermatologists' Recommendation: Self-Exams, Screenings Vital for Detecting S...(performing theself-exams said Dr. Robin...),Health

Dr. Robinson added that patients who reported the quality of their relationship with their partner as below average had the lowest levels of self-efficacy in performing routine skin self-exams.

"For patients at high risk for developing melanoma, dermatologists should consider discussing the quality of the patients' relationships with their spouse or partner to determine if they are able to offer adequate support in assisting with the skin self-exams," said Dr. Robinson. "If the quality of the relationship is lacking and the spouse or partner does not offer strong social support to the patient, it might be beneficial to suggest that the patient recruit a different helper, such as a close family member or friend, for assistance."

Workplace Screening Program

The results of a study which may be the only early detection campaign to show a decrease in melanoma-specific mortality were published in the May 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. The study, "Screening program reduced melanoma mortality at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), 1984 to 1996," was an educational campaign designed to promote skin self-exams and offer targeted skin cancer screenings for employees at a Northern California workplace. This screening program showed a statistically significant reduction in melanoma mortality and a dramatic 69 percent reduction of intermediate and thick (greater than 0.75 mm) tumors after the initiation of the active screening program. During the same time period, the incidence of these thicker tumors was on the rise in California and the US.

The chief dermatologist for the program for 22 years, Jeffrey S. Schneider, MD, FAAD, who works at the Kaiser Permanen
'/>"/>