Role of community pharmacists in skin cancer screening: A descriptive study of skin cancer risk factors prevalence and photoprotection habits in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Pharmacy Practice

  • Joan F. Mir1Barcelona Pharmacists Association (COFB), Barcelona, Spain.
  • Maria Estrada-Campmany1Barcelona Pharmacists Association (COFB), Barcelona, Spain.
  • Anna Heredia1Barcelona Pharmacists Association (COFB), Barcelona, Spain.
  • Cristina Rodríguez-Caba1Barcelona Pharmacists Association (COFB), Barcelona, Spain.
  • Marta Alcalde1Barcelona Pharmacists Association (COFB), Barcelona, Spain.
  • Natalia Espinosa2Melanoma Unit, Dermatology Department, IDIBAPS-Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Jilliana Monnier2Melanoma Unit, Dermatology Department, IDIBAPS-Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Javiera Pérez-Anker2Melanoma Unit, Dermatology Department, IDIBAPS-Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Oriol Yélamos2Melanoma Unit, Dermatology Department, IDIBAPS-Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Susana Puig3Melanoma Unit, Dermatology Department, IDIBAPS-Hospital Clinic, Barcelona; & Biomedical Research Networking Centers Consortium, Institute of Health Carlos III (CIBER-ISCIII), Barcelona, Spain.
  • Núria Bosch1Barcelona Pharmacists Association (COFB), Barcelona, Spain.
  • Josep Malvehy4Melanoma Unit, Dermatology Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS). Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER), Instituto Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain.

Volume 17 Issue 3 Pages 1-9

DOI: 10.18549/PharmPract.2019.3.1455

Abstract

Background: Skin cancer incidence is increasing alarmingly, despite current efforts trying to improve its early detection. Community pharmacists have proven success in implementing screening protocols for a number of diseases because of their skills and easy access. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of skin cancer risk factors and the photoprotection habits with a questionnaire in community pharmacy users. Methods: A research group consisting of pharmacists and dermatologists conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study to assess photoprotection habits and skin cancer risk factors by using a validated questionnaire in 218 community pharmacies in Barcelona from May 23rd to June 13th 2016. All participants received health education on photoprotection and skin cancer prevention. Patients with ≥1 skin cancer risk factor were referred to their physician, as they needed further screening of skin cancer. Results: A total of 5,530 participants were evaluated. Of those, only 20.2% participants had received a total body skin examination for skin cancer screening in the past by a physician and 57.1% reported using a SPF 50+ sunscreen. 53.9% participants presented ≥1 skin cancer risk factor: 11.8% participants reported having skin cancer familial history and 6.2% reported skin cancer personal history; pharmacists found ≥10 melanocytic nevi in 43.8% participants and chronically sun-damaged skin in 21.4%. Lesions suspicious for melanoma were reported in 10.9% of the participants and urgent dermatological evaluation was recommended. Conclusions: Pharmacists can detect people with skin cancer risk factors amongst their users. This intervention can be considered in multidisciplinary strategies of skin cancer screening.

Keywords

  • Sunscreening Agents
  • Skin Neoplasms
  • Early Detection of Cancer
  • Pharmacies
  • Pharmacists
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Spain
Pharmacy Practice

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