<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_sjph-2019-0009_s_006_w2aab3b7b3b1b6b1aab1c18b1Aa"><h3>Introduction</h3><p>Most data related to cutaneous melanoma survivors’ health behaviour comes from epidemiological studies and is predominantly concerned with safe-sun behaviour and self-examination. Data regarding other changes of health behaviour are scarce and so are qualitative studies in this realm. The aim of our research is to acquire insight into the experiences of patients with cutaneous melanoma in Slovenia. How did they react to the diagnosis, which changes did they introduce in their health behaviour and how do they assess the role of family doctors?</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2019-0009_s_007_w2aab3b7b3b1b6b1aab1c18b2Aa"><h3>Methods</h3><p>Using the qualitative approach of collective case reports, a demographically diverse group of patients with different forms and stages of cutaneous melanoma was selected. Semi-structured interviews conducted by a psychologist were recorded and transcribed verbatim. For data processing, the approach of Qualitative Content Analysis was applied.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2019-0009_s_009_w2aab3b7b3b1b6b1aab1c18b3Aa"><h3>Results</h3><p>We integrated interviewees’ experiences after the diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma in several subcategories: either they did not introduce any changes or they mentioned changing their habits when exposed to the sun and performing skin self-examination; they also emphasized their ways of dealing with stress and raising awareness about melanoma among family members and friends. The role of family doctors in the prevention and care appears unclear; even contradictory.</p></sec><sec id="j_sjph-2019-0009_s_010_w2aab3b7b3b1b6b1aab1c18b4Aa"><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>We obtained insight into the experiences of Slovenian patients with cutaneous melanoma. The interviewees prioritised safe behaviour in the sun, strengthening of psychological stability and raising awareness about melanoma. Findings will be used in the creation of a structured questionnaire for national epidemiological survey.</p></sec></abstract>

IntroductionMost data related to cutaneous melanoma survivors’ health behaviour comes from epidemiological studies and is predominantly concerned with safe-sun behaviour and self-examination. Data regarding other changes of health behaviour are scarce and so are qualitative studies in this realm. The aim of our research is to acquire insight into the experiences of patients with cutaneous melanoma in Slovenia. How did they react to the diagnosis, which changes did they introduce in their health behaviour and how do they assess the role of family doctors?MethodsUsing the qualitative approach of collective case reports, a demographically diverse group of patients with different forms and stages of cutaneous melanoma was selected. Semi-structured interviews conducted by a psychologist were recorded and transcribed verbatim. For data processing, the approach of Qualitative Content Analysis was applied.ResultsWe integrated interviewees’ experiences after the diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma in several subcategories: either they did not introduce any changes or they mentioned changing their habits when exposed to the sun and performing skin self-examination; they also emphasized their ways of dealing with stress and raising awareness about melanoma among family members and friends. The role of family doctors in the prevention and care appears unclear; even contradictory.ConclusionWe obtained insight into the experiences of Slovenian patients with cutaneous melanoma. The interviewees prioritised safe behaviour in the sun, strengthening of psychological stability and raising awareness about melanoma. Findings will be used in the creation of a structured questionnaire for national epidemiological survey.

Health behaviour changes of cutaneous melanoma survivors in Slovenia – a qualitative study

Slovenian Journal of Public Health

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Spremembe v zdravstvenem vedenju bolnikov z melanomom kože v Sloveniji - kvalitativna raziskava

IntroductionMost data related to cutaneous melanoma survivors’ health behaviour comes from epidemiological studies and is predominantly concerned with safe-sun...

Categories	Codes
Before the diagnosis	does not deal with the skin
	alerts about skin self-examination
	incorrectly assesses specific lesion
After the diagnosis	active
	passive
	relieving
	burdening

Main categories	Main subcategories	Detailed subcategories	Codes
Health behaviour	No changes		living the same way

management	Changes in sun behaviour		use of protective creams
			»different« creams
			higher SPF used
			physical protection
			vigilance in hours
			avoiding the sun

	Changes in skin self-examination		checks regularly
			checks occasionally
			checks before the medical check-up
			being more attentive to the skin

	Dealing with the stress	strengthening of mental stability	independently
			with help of an expert
			conversation with family/friends
		physical activity	stroll
			intensive activity
			yoga

	Raising awareness of melanoma		among kinship
			among acquaintances

	Total (men/women)
Participants (n)	10 (5/5)
Age, mean (years)	51.8 (62/41.6)
Diagnosis melanoma in situ (MIS), superficial spreading melanoma (SMM), nodular melanoma (NM), lentigo maligna melanoma (LM)
MIS	8 (6/2)
SSM	19 (10/9)
NM	1 (1/0)
LM	1 (1/0)
One MM	4 (2/2)
Two or more MM/MIS	6 (3/3)
Duration from (last) diagnosis to interview, mean (years)	3.7 (2.6/4.8)

Health behaviour changes of cutaneous melanoma survivors in Slovenia – a qualitative study

Article Category: Original scientific article

Published Online: Mar 26, 2019

Page range: 70 - 77

Received: Aug 26, 2018

Accepted: Mar 12, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2019-0009

Keywords
cutaneous melanoma, coping with stress, experiences, health behaviour, qualitative research

© 2019 National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Patients’ experiences regarding the role of family doctors before and after the diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma.

The impact of being diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma on health behaviour.

Characteristics of the participants.

Health behaviour changes of cutaneous melanoma survivors in Slovenia – a qualitative study

Article Category: Original scientific article

Published Online: Mar 26, 2019

Page range: 70 - 77

Received: Aug 26, 2018

Accepted: Mar 12, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2019-0009

Keywordscutaneous melanoma, coping with stress, experiences, health behaviour, qualitative research

© 2019 National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Patients’ experiences regarding the role of family doctors before and after the diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma.

The impact of being diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma on health behaviour.

Characteristics of the participants.

Keywords
cutaneous melanoma, coping with stress, experiences, health behaviour, qualitative research