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

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Abstract

Hispanics are more likely to be diagnosed with skin cancer at a later stage and experience worse overall survival than Whites. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess the skin cancer knowledge, attitudes, perceived risk, and sun protection practices among an underserved population in the Phoenix area. We recruited participants from the greater Phoenix area to undergo skin examination and complete a questionnaire. 208 participants were included. The majority were Hispanic (64.9%). Of this Hispanic group, most were from Mexico (87.9%). The Hispanic cohort had an overall mean skin cancer knowledge score of 3.68/6, the lowest of any other racial/ethnic group, but had the highest desire to learn more about skin cancer (64.6%, “strongly agree”). They were the most concerned about developing skin cancer (50.4%, “very concerned”) but had relatively lower rates of sun protection practices (7.9% “always use” sunscreen, 22.0% “always use” sun-protective clothing). Limitations of this study include a small sample size, lack of validation for the skin cancer knowledge score, lack of season as a covariate in the multivariate analysis, lack of follow-up, and lack of robust skin cancer risk assessment. In conclusion, despite poorer skin cancer knowledge and sun protection practices, the Hispanic population had the highest concern for developing skin cancer and desire to learn more about skin cancer. Targeted and culturally relevant skin cancer and sun protection education for this group is needed.

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Funding

This project was supported by funding from the Mayo Clinic Center for Health Equity and Community Engagement Research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Scottsdale, AZ, USA

    Jake Besch-Stokes & Jordan Montoya

  2. Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA

    Caitlin M. Brumfiel, Meera H. Patel, Jamison Harvey, Kevin J. Severson, Helen Cumsky, Collin M. Costello, Mark R. Pittelkow & Aaron R. Mangold

  3. Division of Biostatistics, Department of Health Science Research, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA

    Matthew Buras

  4. Mexico Section of the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission, Baja California, Tijuana, Mexico

    J. Eduardo González Fagoaga

Authors
  1. Jake Besch-Stokes
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  2. Caitlin M. Brumfiel
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  3. Meera H. Patel
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  4. Jamison Harvey
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  5. Jordan Montoya
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  6. Kevin J. Severson
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  7. Helen Cumsky
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  8. Matthew Buras
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  9. J. Eduardo González Fagoaga
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  10. Collin M. Costello
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  11. Mark R. Pittelkow
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  12. Aaron R. Mangold
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Contributions

Aaron Mangold, Jordan Montoya, and Kevin Severson contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by Aaron Mangold, Jake Besch-Stokes, Mathew Buras, Collin Costello, Helen Cumsky and J. Eduardo González Fagoaga. The manuscript was written by Jake Besch-Stokes, Caitlin Brumfiel, Meera Patel and Jamison Harvey and all authors commented on versions of the manuscript. Mark Pittelkow and Aaron Mangold provided critical review and revisions. All authors participated substantially in writing, reading, and approving the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Aaron R. Mangold.

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Conflicts of Interest

Dr. Aaron Mangold reports personal fees from Kyowa, Eli Lilly, Momenta, UCB, Regeneron, Genentech, PHELEC. Grants from Kyowa, Miragen, Regeneron, Corbus, Sun Pharma, Incyte, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, Elorac, Novartis, Jansen, Solagenix, Argenx, American Society of Dermatological Surgery, Dermatology Foundation, outside the submitted work. All other authors have nothing to disclose.

Ethics Approval

Reviewed and approved by Mayo Clinic IRB, approval #17–000686.

Consent to Participate

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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The authors affirm that human research participants provided informed consent for publication. No individual level data or images will be published.

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Besch-Stokes, J., Brumfiel, C.M., Patel, M.H. et al. Skin Cancer Knowledge, Attitudes and Sun Protection Practices in the Hispanic Population: A Cross-Sectional Survey. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities 10, 1293–1303 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-022-01314-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-022-01314-6

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