Skin Cancer Knowledge, Attitudes and Sun Protection Practices in the Hispanic Population: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Public Health
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Hispanics face higher risks for late-stage skin cancer diagnosis and poorer survival rates compared to Whites.
• Underserved populations often experience significant barriers to accessing adequate health information and care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate skin cancer knowledge, attitudes, perceived risk, and sun protection behaviors among an underserved Hispanic population in Phoenix.
• To identify specific needs for targeted skin cancer prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving skin examinations and questionnaires for 208 participants in the Phoenix area.
• Analysis focused on comparing skin cancer knowledge, attitudes, risk perception, and practices across different racial/ethnic groups, with a focus on the Hispanic cohort.

Main Results:

• The Hispanic group (64.9% of participants) exhibited the lowest mean skin cancer knowledge score (3.68/6).
• Despite lower knowledge, Hispanics reported the highest concern (50.4%) and desire (64.6%) to learn more about skin cancer.
• Sun protection practices, including consistent sunscreen use (7.9%) and protective clothing (22.0%), were notably lower in the Hispanic cohort.

Conclusions:

• The Hispanic population in this study demonstrates a critical need for culturally tailored skin cancer education and improved sun protection interventions.
• Addressing knowledge gaps and promoting effective sun safety practices are essential to reduce skin cancer disparities.