Participation of older males in a study on photography as an aid to early detection of melanoma

Objective: To examine the acceptability of photography as an aid to skin examinations in men over 50 years of age. Methods: A randomised trial of men selected from the electoral roll. All participants were photographed, but only half received their photographs. Skin examinations by GPs at years one and two. Results: 55% of men consented to have photographs taken and 51% did so. 86% of respondents had risk factors for melanoma (compared to 68% of non-responders) and 47% had two or more risk factors (compared to 23% of non-responders). At year one, 91% of participants remaining in study regions had been examined. Photographs were lost by only six participants. Conclusions: Men over 50 years of age respond to parsonalised health messages about melanoma and respondents include a high proportion of males with risk factors for melanoma. Implications: These initial results suggest that photography may be a logistically acceptable approach for assisting in the early detection of melanoma. (Aust N Z J Public Health 2000; 24:615-8)