Skin cancer prevention and detection by nurses: attitudes, perceptions, and barriers

To examine attitudes and perceptions of nurses with respect to skin cancer prevention and detection; to identify barriers to skin cancer prevention and detection by nurses.

Descriptive survey of 457 nurses from the Texas State Board of Nurse Examiners in 1997.

Eighty-nine percent of the nurses reported that skin cancer was a serious problem, and 97% believed that many people were at risk. More than 89% stated that skin cancer prevention/detection would benefit patients, and 94% believed that such skills would benefit nurses. Eighty-four percent reported that it was in their scope of practice to teach skin cancer prevention to patients, and 61% stated that it was in their scope of practice to detect skin cancer in patients. Barriers to skin cancer prevention and detection included lack of national guidelines (69%), low priority among doctors (63%), and the belief that patients should take full responsibility for prevention (50%). Barriers to continuing education for skin cancer screening included lack of money (43%), not knowing how to obtain education (41%), time away from work (36%), and time away from home (26%).

These findings may suggest that nurses can play a role in skin cancer prevention and detection.