SCAN! A pharmacy-based, sun safety feasibility study

Objectives: Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, and individuals from the medically underserved Appalachian region are at elevated risks for cancer morbidity and mortality. Skin cancer can be prevented by decreasing ultraviolet light exposure (sunscreen sun protection factor 30, shade, clothing, sunglasses, hats) and can be caught at an early treatable stage through a routine skin examination. The Skin Cancer Awareness Now! (SCAN!) pilot project promoted skin cancer prevention and screening in community pharmacies, using a dynamic communication model. The objectives of the study were to understand (1) the feasibility of the SCAN! and (2) the preliminary impact of the SCAN! Methods: We conducted preand postintervention surveys of the SCAN!, a student pharmacist-led or pharmacy resident-led intervention in community pharmacies (n = 3). Results: Participants (n = 90) had a mean age of 43.8 (SD= 18.4) years, were predominantly white (92.1%), without a college degree (65.6%), and had an average family income in the range of $25,000-$49,999, with approximately 16% falling below the poverty level. To begin, the SCAN! scored highly in attention (mean = 5.8), liking (mean = 6.1), comprehension (mean = 6.7), and intentions to be sun safe (mean = 6.0). Most improved in their knowledge of the amount of sunscreen needed per application for sun safety (66%, P < 0.01) and of melanoma features from preand postintervention (39%, P < 0.01). A multivariate analysis of variance indicated that knowledge and intentions improved (all P's < 0.01). Interaction effects indicated that improvements in knowledge were greater for those in the rural pharmacy (P = 0.03), and improvements in perceived importance were greater for those in urban pharmacies (P = 0.01). Conclusion: The SCAN! intervention was well received by the population. Our study provides evidence that community pharmacy is a novel venue for skin cancer prevention interventions, particularly for rural, medically underserved populations. (c) 2021 American Pharmacists Association (R). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The SCAN! intervention in community pharmacies was well received by participants, particularly for rural and medically underserved populations. Participants showed significant improvements in knowledge of sunscreen and melanoma features, as well as strengthened intentions to adopt sun protection measures. The study provides evidence that community pharmacies can be an effective venue for skin cancer prevention interventions.