The role of patient education and physician support in self-efficacy for skin self-examination among patients with melanoma

ObjectiveThis project aims to elucidate the relationships between skin self-examination (SSE), perceived physician support of SSE, and self-efficacy for SSE among melanoma patients.MethodsA longitudinal study of patients diagnosed with melanoma was conducted over the span of 18 months. Participants filled out questionnaires at four assessment points and participated in an SSE education about the early signs of melanoma.ResultsAmong the 242 patients enrolled, the level of self-efficacy for SSE was 23% higher immediately after the educational intervention (p < .001) and the increase was retained three months (p < .001) and twelve months later (p < .001). Additionally, a one-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed that the perceived physician support of SSE positively corresponded to the level of patient self-efficacy with higher patient-reported physician support being related to higher self-efficacy (p = .001).ConclusionPatient education and perceived physician support of SSE are positively associated with patients’ level of self-efficacy.Practice implicationsPhysicians caring for melanoma survivors should be aware that, both SSE education and patients’ perception of high physician support of SSE may be associated with higher self-efficacy for checking one’s own skin for signs of cancer recurrence.