Training program to raise consciousness among adolescents for protection against skin cancer through performance of skin self examination

Background: Overexposure to sunlight in childhood and the adolescent period and associsated sunburns significantly increase the risk of skin cancer in adulthood. In Turkey, the incidence of skin cancer in the general population is 0.8%. The incidence is 0.6% and the mortality rate is 0.4% for men, while these rates are 1.0% and 0.7%, respectively, for women. If skin cancer is found early, its treatment is facilitated. Therefore, personal skin examination is important for early diagnosis. Objectives: Our aim was to determine the effects of training for raising consciousness among adolescents to protect against skin cancer by influencing skin self examination behavior. Method: This quasi experimental intervention study was conducted between February and April 2012 in Izmir. The study population consisted of students attending 6th, 7th and 8th classes of a primary school (n:302). No sampling was performed. Data were collected with a form developed by the researchers based on the literature. The first part of form is aimed to determine demographic characteristics of adolescents (3 questions) and their risk status of skin cancer (6 questions). The second part was prepared for skin cancer risks of adolescents (8 questions) and indications of skin cancer (12 questions). The last part was intended to determine their knowledge about skin self examination (4 questions) and behavioral stages of skin self examination (1 question). Data collection was achieved with a questionnaire form in three phases. In the 1st phase, data about demographic characteristics of students, risk status of skin cancer, knowledge level of skin cancer and behavior stages were collected. In the 2nd phase, skin self examination training based on the transtheoretical model was performed within the same day just after obtaining preliminary data. In the 3rd phase, adolescents were followed up three times to establish the efficacy of the training (on the 15th day after training program and at end of the 1st and 2nd months). Follow-up data were evaluated by questioning skin self examination performing behavior stages through electronic mail. Results: Half of the adolescents (50.5%) are male, and 58.4% of them are 13 years old with a mean age of 12±1.15 years. About 29.4% of adolescents had brown hair color, 37.9% had brown/hazel eye color, 29.4% had white skin, and 47.2% had fewer than 10 moles in their body. The pretest mean score on knowledge level about risks of skin cancer was found to be 4.19±1.96, while the post-test mean score was 6.79±1.67 (min:0, max:8).The pretest mean score about indications of skin cancer was 7.45±3.76, while the post-test mean score was 10.7±2.60 (min:0, max:12). The increases were statistically significant (p<0.05). The behavior "I do not perform skin self examination regularly in every month and I do not think to perform it in the next 6 months" was reduced from 52.8 to 35.5% after training. Conclusion: The training program organized to raise consciousness among adolescents for protection against skin cancer increased the knowledge level about risks and indications of skin cancer and it also improved the behavior of performing skin self examination

Comparison of Pure and Doped TiO₂ Thin Films Prepared by Sol-Gel Spin-Coating Method

In this study, using spin-coating sol-gel method we fabricated TiO₂ thin films, doped with different concentrations (1, 2, and 3 mole %) of Ce, Dy, and Eu. Characterization of the prepared samples was performed by means of the X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet visible absorption, and differential thermal and thermo gravimetric analysis. X-ray diffraction measurements have shown that in Eu and Dy-doped samples crystal structure consists of mixed rutile and the dominant anatase phases, however the Ce doped samples consist of anatase phase only. Scanning electron microscopy images have revealed that while average thin film thickness of the Dy-doped samples decreases with increasing concentration of Dy, the average film thicknesses of samples doped with Ce and Eu increases with increasing concentrations of these dopants. Ultraviolet visible absorption spectroscopy measurements have shown that while absorbances of the samples doped by 1 and 2 mole % of the dopants have nearly similar properties, these properties differ from each other for 3 mole % of the dopants. Finally, differential thermal and thermo gravimetric analyses have shown that the chemical reactions and weight losses of the samples have occurred at the expected temperatures

Awareness of Skin Cancer, Prevention, and Early Detection among Turkish University Students

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the awareness about skin cancer, prevention, and early detection among university students. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out with 404 students in a university located in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. A 35-item questionnaire was used for data collection. Results: Less than half of the students (37.9%) had knowledge about skin cancer mostly through the internet (24.5%) and media (24.1%). Half of them aware of the risk factors; mostly as avoiding direct exposure to the Sun between 10 am and 4 pm (45.3%); smoking and alcohol (38.4%); having fair skin color (34.9%); and ultraviolet light exposure (25.7%). Only one-third of them (32.9%) are knowledgeable about skin cancer signs and symptoms, such as a change in color and appearance of the nevus/moles (24%). The majority of the responders (77.3%) did not know about screening tests for skin cancer and only 18 (4.5%) students were practicing skin self-examination. Conclusions: This study showed a lack of knowledge about skin cancer, prevention, and early detection among university students and reported the need for educational interventions to raise awareness in this target group