PUBLIC AWARENESS OF MALIGNANT-MELANOMA RISK-FACTORS IN GERMANY

Study objective-To evaluate the effects of a German public education c ampaign which aimed to improve knowledge on risk factors for malignant melanoma. Design-Comparison of data from two successive cross section al surveys conducted before (spring 1993) and after (autumn 1994) the campaign. Setting-All 56 nursery schools in Gottingen, the capital of southern Lower Saxony, Germany. Participants-Parents of children atten ding the nursery schools. Altogether 1341 questionnaires from parents were included in the first survey (response rate 64.9%) and 1150 quest ionnaires in the second survey (response rate 61.4%). Main results-The respondents in the second survey were much better at distinguishing t rue melanoma risk factors from false ones. The distribution of scores measuring the degree of accurate knowledge about melanoma risks indica ted that this had improved significantly (p<0.001). The most pronounce d change with regard to knowledge of single risk factors could be obse rved for ((sunburn during childhood,)) which was correctly identified by 63.1% in the first survey and by 85.6% in the second. Substantial i mprovement in accurate knowledge about the influence of constitutional skin factors-number of naevi, skin type etc-was also found. Conclusio ns-Notwithstanding the methodological problems in this analysis (non-r andomised design, only before and after comparison, no control group, number of non-respondents), it is concluded that this campaign improve d understanding of the risks of melanoma. Continuing public education activities should be implemented to sustain and improve further knowle dge on prevention of malignant melanoma.