Couples training ups confidence in skin self-exams

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Training for skin self-exams works better when a person receives instruction along with a partner, rather than solo, largely because it helps people feel more confident in their ability to perform the exams, a new study shows.

Dr. June K. Robinson of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago and colleagues had previously shown that people with melanoma who received skin self-exam training with their significant other were more likely to perform the exams regularly than those given solo instruction.

To better understand why, the investigators analyzed 130 melanoma patients' attitudes about and knowledge of performing skin self exams before and after they received the training.

Half underwent the 10-minute training session with a partner, and half received the training alone.

Key factors that explained the difference in frequency of performing skin self-exams between the solo and couple groups included attitudes toward skin self exams, self-efficacy about performing the exams, fears of developing sun-damaged skin, and comfort level with having a partner involved in the skin self exam process, the researchers found.

The most powerful variable was self-efficacy, followed by attitudes toward self-exams, comfort level, and concerns about sun damage.

Doctors can use partner learning as "an important tool to teach health promoting behaviors and to enhance patient compliance with performing skin self-exams," the researchers conclude.

SOURCE: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, March 2007.