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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2008 Jun 9.
Published in final edited form as: Br J Dermatol. 2006 Nov;155(5):916–925. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2006.07454.x

Table 3.

Summary of findings in previous studies of photoprotection and skin cancer awareness in organ transplant recipients

Reference,
country, year		 No.
patients/no.
responders		 M/F
ratio		 Type/
dermatology
settinga 		Dedicated
transplant
skin clinicb 		Mean time
from
transplant
(years)		 % who had
previously
ever attended
dermatology
clinic		 % who had
received
photoprotection
advice		 % advised
by a
dermatologist		 % using
sunscreen
/dailyc 		SPF of
sunscreen		 % practising
sun
avoidanced 		Clothing
used to
photoprotect
(%)e 		Knowledge
of skin cancer
risk (%)
​11, Wales, 1997 204/128 1·46 Postal/no No NA NA 46 NA 40/NA < 10 in > 90% NA NA NA
​10, U.K., 1998 202/202 1·69 Oral/no No 6·8 17 54 17 57/NA < 15 in 63% 18 40 30
​12, U.S.A., 1999f 122/NA 1·49 Oral/no No 3·1 27 41 NA 67/NA NA NA NA 59
​13, Canada, 2004 205/NA 2·11 Oral/yes Yes 51·2%
> 5 years		 NA NA NA 70/36 NA 77 81 NA
​14, U.S.A., 2004f 200/NA 1·0 Telephone/no No 2·9 NA NA NA 35/NA NA 20 21 12
​15, France, 2004 520/445 1·6 Written/yesg Yes 12·5 NA 91 80 63/NA > 60 in 69% 63 36 47
​16, Poland, 2004h 151/NA 1·52 Written/no No 3·2 NA 75  6 38/NA Mean 12 73 80 68
​17, Ireland, 2005 270/NA 2·07 Oral/yes (some) Yes 6·8
(median)		 37 NA NA 74/NA NA NA NA NA
Present study, U.K., 2005 399/292 1·34 Postal/no Yes 12·9 89 96 85 92/43 > 25 in 64% 96 88 68

NA, information not available; SPF, sun protection factor.

a

Type of survey/questionnaire is detailed; whether this was presented in a dermatology setting is also indicated.

b

Centres in which a dedicated transplant skin clinic is established are indicated. In reference ​17, it seems that the dedicated clinic may have been established after completion of the survey.

c

Percentage of patients using sunscreen at least during sunny weather; ‘daily’ use refers to daily at least through the summer months.

d

Avoidance of midday sun, or avoidance of intentional tanning.

e

Highest percentage of patients reporting clothing worn at least ‘sometimes’ is recorded here.

f

All phototypes included in these studies (9·8% nonwhite in reference ​12; 14% in reference ​14).

g

Although the questionnaire was delivered anonymously, a covering letter stressed the importance of sun protection and the need to evaluate patients' knowledge and compliance with this.

h

Two patients with a history of skin cancer were excluded.