This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

A Focus on Pediatricians

Roger H. Brodkin, MD; Emily M. Altman, MD

Am J Dis Child. 1993;147(8):875-881.

Abstract
• There is evidence that the mortality rate associated with malignant melanoma can be decreased by early identification of the risk factors for melanoma and precursor lesions and by reducing sun exposure in young patients at higher risk. Many of the risk factors for malignant melanoma are seen in the pediatric age group. To determine pediatricians' awareness of risk factors for melanoma and their ability to recognize the precursors of melanoma, we studied three departments of pediatrics—at an urban and a suburban medical center and a medical college. Ninety-six members of the audience, which included full-time faculty, practicing pediatricians, and pediatrics residents, responded to questionnaires before and after a presentation on the risk factors for melanoma. Based on the results of the questionnaires, this group of pediatricians believed that they were not sufficiently knowledgeable about the risk factors for melanoma and did not routinely examine their patients for these risk factors or counsel them on proper sunlight protection. These findings indicate a need for making pediatricians aware of the risk factors for melanoma and of the critical role they play in decreasing the incidence and mortality rate associated with this disease.

(AJDC. 1993;147:875-881)

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology (Dr Brodkin), and the New Jersey Medical School (Dr Altman), University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication March 8, 1993.

Presented in part at the 32nd annual meeting of the Noah Worcester Dermatologic Society, Boca Raton, Fla, March 17, 1990.

Reprint requests to Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, 185 S Orange Ave, Newark, NJ 07103 (Dr Brodkin).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Behavioral and community interventions to prevent skin cancer: what works?
Glanz et al.
Arch Dermatol 2006;142:356-360.
FULL TEXT