Enhancing Skin Cancer Prevention and Awareness in the Italian Population: Insights from the “Save Your Skin” Screening Campaign
Introduction: Skin cancer prevention campaigns aim to reduce modifiable risk factors, yet high-risk groups often maintain inadequate protection practices. Objectives: This study analyzed data from Italy's 2023 "Save Your Skin" campaign, which provided free skin checks nationwide....
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Mattioli1885
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Dermatology Practical & Conceptual |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://dpcj.org/index.php/dpc/article/view/5350 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849314640173989888 |
|---|---|
| author | Paola Savoia Laura Cristina Gironi Chiara Airoldi Francesca Zottarelli Mauro Alaibac Marco Ardigò Giuseppe Argenziano Stefano Astorino Francesco Bellinato Luca Bianchi Maurizio Congedo Claudia Costa Alessandro Di Stefani Maria Concetta Fargnoli Caterina Foti Pasquale Frascione Giampiero Girolomoni Vieri Grandi Fabrizio Guarneri Katharina Hansel Francesco Lacarruba Serena Lembo Angelo Valerio Marzano Giuseppe Micali Steven Paul Nisticò Annamaria Offidani Ketty Peris Bianca Maria Piraccini Pietro Quaglino Marco Romanelli Franco Rongioletti Pietro Rubegni Camilla Salvini Massimiliano Scalvenzi Paolo Sena Marco Spadafora Carlo Francesco Tomasini Marina Venturini Elisa Zavattaro |
| author_facet | Paola Savoia Laura Cristina Gironi Chiara Airoldi Francesca Zottarelli Mauro Alaibac Marco Ardigò Giuseppe Argenziano Stefano Astorino Francesco Bellinato Luca Bianchi Maurizio Congedo Claudia Costa Alessandro Di Stefani Maria Concetta Fargnoli Caterina Foti Pasquale Frascione Giampiero Girolomoni Vieri Grandi Fabrizio Guarneri Katharina Hansel Francesco Lacarruba Serena Lembo Angelo Valerio Marzano Giuseppe Micali Steven Paul Nisticò Annamaria Offidani Ketty Peris Bianca Maria Piraccini Pietro Quaglino Marco Romanelli Franco Rongioletti Pietro Rubegni Camilla Salvini Massimiliano Scalvenzi Paolo Sena Marco Spadafora Carlo Francesco Tomasini Marina Venturini Elisa Zavattaro |
| author_sort | Paola Savoia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction: Skin cancer prevention campaigns aim to reduce modifiable risk factors, yet high-risk groups often maintain inadequate protection practices.
Objectives: This study analyzed data from Italy's 2023 "Save Your Skin" campaign, which provided free skin checks nationwide.
Methods: Data from 1,773 participants across 29 centers in 13 regions were collected to assess sun exposure, photoprotection habits, and skin cancer awareness, identifying gaps in prevention efforts.
Results: Most participants were female (70.16%) with a median age of 36, and 96.61% were born in Italy. While 71.24% joined for preventive reasons, others participated due to changes in a nevus (12.35%) or personal (2.31%) or family (7.33%) history of skin cancer. Self-assessments of nevi often did not align with dermatologists’ evaluations, but family and personal history reporting was more accurate. Participants showed confusion about nevi and melanoma: only 52.7% correctly identified nevi as benign, while 67.2% recognized melanoma as malignant. On average, participants answered 1.57 out of 3 knowledge questions correctly, with those having a family or personal history of skin cancer performing better. High-risk sun exposure behaviors were identified in 37.78% of participants. Older adults used sunscreen less frequently but relied more on hats and shade, while younger individuals reported less sun exposure at work. Notably, participants with actinic damage demonstrated lower awareness and provided fewer correct answers on photoprotection.
Conclusions: These findings underscore the need for targeted public health strategies to improve education on skin cancer prevention, particularly among high-risk and older populations.
|
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7dc5ffaa7fb148ee895f8539bc8be8cc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2160-9381 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Mattioli1885 |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Dermatology Practical & Conceptual |
| spelling | doaj-art-7dc5ffaa7fb148ee895f8539bc8be8cc2025-08-20T03:52:24ZengMattioli1885Dermatology Practical & Conceptual2160-93812025-04-0115210.5826/dpc.152a5350Enhancing Skin Cancer Prevention and Awareness in the Italian Population: Insights from the “Save Your Skin” Screening CampaignPaola Savoia0Laura Cristina Gironi1Chiara Airoldi2Francesca Zottarelli3Mauro Alaibac4Marco Ardigò5Giuseppe Argenziano6Stefano Astorino7Francesco Bellinato8Luca Bianchi9Maurizio Congedo10Claudia Costa11Alessandro Di Stefani12Maria Concetta Fargnoli13Caterina Foti14Pasquale Frascione15Giampiero Girolomoni16Vieri Grandi17Fabrizio Guarneri18Katharina Hansel19Francesco Lacarruba20Serena Lembo21Angelo Valerio Marzano22Giuseppe Micali23Steven Paul Nisticò24Annamaria Offidani25Ketty Peris26Bianca Maria Piraccini27Pietro Quaglino28Marco Romanelli29Franco Rongioletti30Pietro Rubegni31Camilla Salvini32Massimiliano Scalvenzi33Paolo Sena34Marco Spadafora35Carlo Francesco Tomasini36Marina Venturini37Elisa Zavattaro38Department of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, ItalySCDU Dermatologia, AOU Maggiore della Carità, Novara, ItalyDepartment of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, ItalySCDU Dermatologia, AOU Maggiore della Carità, Novara, ItalyUniversity of Padova, Padova, ItalySan Gallicano Dermatological Institute IRCCS, Rome, ItalyUniversity L. Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy Studio Medico Piazza Bologna, Rome, ItalyAOUI Ospedale Borgo Trento, Verona, ItalyPoliclinico Tor Vergata, Rome, ItalyOspedale Vito Fazzi, Lecce, ItalyAOU Federico II, Naples, ItalyFondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, ItalyAOU Consorziale Policlinico, Bari, ItalyIRCCS IFO Istituti Fisioterapici Ospedalieri, Rome, ItalyAOUI Ospedale Borgo Trento, Verona, ItalySC Dermatologia, Dip. Scienze della Salute Università degli Studi di Firenze & Azienda USL Toscana Centro, Florence, ItalyAOU Policlinico G. Martino, Messina, ItalyDermatology Section, Department of Medicine and Surgery - University of Perugia, Perugia, ItalyAOU Policlinico Vittorio Emanuele – PO G. Rodolico, Catania, ItalyAOU San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi D'Aragona dell'Università di Salerno, Salerno, ItalyDermatology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy, & Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, ItalyAOU Policlinico Vittorio Emanuele – PO G. Rodolico, Catania, ItalyAOU Mater Domini, Catanzaro, ItalyOspedali Riuniti Torrette, Ancona, ItalyFondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, ItalyPoliclinico S. Orsola, Bologna, ItalyOspedale Dermatologico San Lazzaro, Turin, ItalyAOU Ospedale Santa Chiara, Pisa, ItalyIRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, ItalyOspedale Le Scotte, Siena, ItalySC Dermatologia, Dip. Scienze della Salute Università degli Studi di Firenze & Azienda USL Toscana Centro, Florence, ItalyAOU Federico II, Naples, ItalyASST Ospedale Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy Skin Cancer Center, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, ItalyFondazione IRCCS San Matteo, PaviaASST degli spedali Civili, Brescia, ItalyDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara Introduction: Skin cancer prevention campaigns aim to reduce modifiable risk factors, yet high-risk groups often maintain inadequate protection practices. Objectives: This study analyzed data from Italy's 2023 "Save Your Skin" campaign, which provided free skin checks nationwide. Methods: Data from 1,773 participants across 29 centers in 13 regions were collected to assess sun exposure, photoprotection habits, and skin cancer awareness, identifying gaps in prevention efforts. Results: Most participants were female (70.16%) with a median age of 36, and 96.61% were born in Italy. While 71.24% joined for preventive reasons, others participated due to changes in a nevus (12.35%) or personal (2.31%) or family (7.33%) history of skin cancer. Self-assessments of nevi often did not align with dermatologists’ evaluations, but family and personal history reporting was more accurate. Participants showed confusion about nevi and melanoma: only 52.7% correctly identified nevi as benign, while 67.2% recognized melanoma as malignant. On average, participants answered 1.57 out of 3 knowledge questions correctly, with those having a family or personal history of skin cancer performing better. High-risk sun exposure behaviors were identified in 37.78% of participants. Older adults used sunscreen less frequently but relied more on hats and shade, while younger individuals reported less sun exposure at work. Notably, participants with actinic damage demonstrated lower awareness and provided fewer correct answers on photoprotection. Conclusions: These findings underscore the need for targeted public health strategies to improve education on skin cancer prevention, particularly among high-risk and older populations. https://dpcj.org/index.php/dpc/article/view/5350skin cancer preventionawareness campaignpublic health initiativecancer screeningdermatological health |
| spellingShingle | Paola Savoia Laura Cristina Gironi Chiara Airoldi Francesca Zottarelli Mauro Alaibac Marco Ardigò Giuseppe Argenziano Stefano Astorino Francesco Bellinato Luca Bianchi Maurizio Congedo Claudia Costa Alessandro Di Stefani Maria Concetta Fargnoli Caterina Foti Pasquale Frascione Giampiero Girolomoni Vieri Grandi Fabrizio Guarneri Katharina Hansel Francesco Lacarruba Serena Lembo Angelo Valerio Marzano Giuseppe Micali Steven Paul Nisticò Annamaria Offidani Ketty Peris Bianca Maria Piraccini Pietro Quaglino Marco Romanelli Franco Rongioletti Pietro Rubegni Camilla Salvini Massimiliano Scalvenzi Paolo Sena Marco Spadafora Carlo Francesco Tomasini Marina Venturini Elisa Zavattaro Enhancing Skin Cancer Prevention and Awareness in the Italian Population: Insights from the “Save Your Skin” Screening Campaign Dermatology Practical & Conceptual skin cancer prevention awareness campaign public health initiative cancer screening dermatological health |
| title | Enhancing Skin Cancer Prevention and Awareness in the Italian Population: Insights from the “Save Your Skin” Screening Campaign |
| title_full | Enhancing Skin Cancer Prevention and Awareness in the Italian Population: Insights from the “Save Your Skin” Screening Campaign |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing Skin Cancer Prevention and Awareness in the Italian Population: Insights from the “Save Your Skin” Screening Campaign |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing Skin Cancer Prevention and Awareness in the Italian Population: Insights from the “Save Your Skin” Screening Campaign |
| title_short | Enhancing Skin Cancer Prevention and Awareness in the Italian Population: Insights from the “Save Your Skin” Screening Campaign |
| title_sort | enhancing skin cancer prevention and awareness in the italian population insights from the save your skin screening campaign |
| topic | skin cancer prevention awareness campaign public health initiative cancer screening dermatological health |
| url | https://dpcj.org/index.php/dpc/article/view/5350 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT paolasavoia enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT lauracristinagironi enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT chiaraairoldi enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT francescazottarelli enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT mauroalaibac enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT marcoardigo enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT giuseppeargenziano enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT stefanoastorino enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT francescobellinato enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT lucabianchi enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT mauriziocongedo enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT claudiacosta enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT alessandrodistefani enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT mariaconcettafargnoli enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT caterinafoti enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT pasqualefrascione enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT giampierogirolomoni enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT vierigrandi enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT fabrizioguarneri enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT katharinahansel enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT francescolacarruba enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT serenalembo enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT angelovaleriomarzano enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT giuseppemicali enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT stevenpaulnistico enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT annamariaoffidani enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT kettyperis enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT biancamariapiraccini enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT pietroquaglino enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT marcoromanelli enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT francorongioletti enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT pietrorubegni enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT camillasalvini enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT massimilianoscalvenzi enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT paolosena enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT marcospadafora enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT carlofrancescotomasini enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT marinaventurini enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign AT elisazavattaro enhancingskincancerpreventionandawarenessintheitalianpopulationinsightsfromthesaveyourskinscreeningcampaign |