Risk factors for melanoma and skin health behaviour:An analysis on Romanian melanoma patients

Fechete,Oana; Ungureanu,Loredana; Șenilă,Simona; Vornicescu,Daniela; Dănescu,Sorina; Vasilovici,Alina; Candrea,Elisabeta; Vesa,Ștefan Cristian; Cosgarea,Rodica

doi:10.3892/ol.2018.9737

Risk factors for melanoma and skin health behaviour:An analysis on Romanian melanoma patients

Authors:
- Oana Fechete
- Loredana Ungureanu
- Simona Șenilă
- Daniela Vornicescu
- Sorina Dănescu
- Alina Vasilovici
- Elisabeta Candrea
- Ștefan Cristian Vesa
- Rodica Cosgarea
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Affiliations: Department of Dermatology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology,‘Iuliu Hațieganu’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400000 Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology,‘Iuliu Hațieganu’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400000 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Published online on: November 19, 2018 https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.9737
Pages: 4139-4144
Copyright: © Fechete et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

In contrast to Western Europe, in Central and Eastern Europe reports show higher rates of advanced melanoma and lower survival. Our aim was to document and compare melanoma risk factors and skin health behaviour in patients diagnosed with melanoma and people not affected by this disease in a large medical university centre from Romania (Cluj-Napoca). Two hundred and forty-seven melanoma patients followed-up in the Department of Dermatology at the Cluj-Napoca Emergency County Hospital and 956 people not affected by melanoma completed a paper-based questionnaire regarding melanoma risk factors, risk behaviour and self-protecting measures, after giving informed consent. People with melanoma had significantly higher personal risk and protective behaviour, and lower risk behaviour than those not affected. Although our data suggest that melanoma patients are better educated about how to avoid a second primary melanoma, our results are concerning when compared with studies from other countries. The low incidence of self and clinical skin-examination together with the relatively low percentage of participants which would consult a doctor in the case of new/changing mole could be one of the explanations for the late diagnosis of melanoma in the studied population. According to our findings, there is an urgent need for population health campaigns regarding not only primary but also secondary melanoma prevention.

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