Table 1. Sample characteristics, physician skin exam screening rates, and multivariable correlates of receipt of a physician skin exam among 2,826 U.S. military veterans, 2015 National Health Interview Survey.
| Variable | Sample % | Ever Had Physician Skin Exam % | AOR (95% CI)a |
|---|---|---|---|
| Served in foreign country | |||
| No | 46.38 | 29.99 | 1 [Reference] |
| Yes | 53.62 | 31.77 | 1.06 (0.84–1.33) |
| Sex | |||
| Male | 91.31 | 30.90 | 1 [Reference] |
| Female | 8.69 | 30.62 | 1.30 (0.84–1.99) |
| Age in years | |||
| 18–39 | 12.07 | 13.72 | 1 [Reference] |
| 40–49 | 11.95 | 20.69 | 1.64 (1.03–2.59) |
| 50–64 | 24.34 | 27.50 | 2.29 (1.49–3.54) |
| ≥65 | 51.63 | 38.84 | 4.18 (2.63–6.62) |
| Education level | |||
| ≤ High school | 31.68 | 24.46 | 1 [Reference] |
| Some college | 38.34 | 27.40 | 1.29 (0.99–1.68) |
| ≥ College graduate | 29.98 | 42.16 | 1.94 (1.43–2.63) |
| Race/ethnicity | |||
| Non-Hispanic white | 79.63 | 35.37 | 1 [Reference] |
| Non-Hispanic black | 13.10 | 12.70 | 0.33 (0.22–0.50) |
| Other | 7.27 | 14.41 | 0.37 (0.22–0.61) |
| Geographic region | |||
| Northeast | 14.07 | 33.97 | 1 [Reference] |
| Midwest | 23.27 | 24.85 | 0.66 (0.45–0.98) |
| South | 40.30 | 32.22 | 1.13 (0.77–1.64) |
| West | 22.36 | 32.79 | 0.96 (0.66–1.39) |
| Health insurance | |||
| TRICARE | 12.88 | 40.24 | 1 [Reference] |
| Private | 49.63 | 31.01 | 0.62 (0.43–0.90) |
| Medicaid | 6.07 | 26.12 | 0.79 (0.44–1.41) |
| Other | 21.59 | 33.03 | 0.57 (0.37–0.86) |
| VA health care only | 6.31 | 20.63 | 0.61 (0.35–1.06) |
| Uninsured | 3.52 | 9.52 | 0.37 (0.15–0.87) |
| Source of preventive health care | |||
| Doctor office or HMO | 62.04 | 34.23 | 1 [Reference] |
| Clinic or health center | 24.56 | 27.66 | 0.87 (0.65–1.15) |
| Hospital or other place | 8.03 | 27.47 | 1.19 (0.76–1.85) |
| Nowhere | 5.36 | 11.29 | 0.36 (0.18–0.73) |
| Worry about medical bills | |||
| Not at all worried | 71.10 | 33.31 | 1 [Reference] |
| Somewhat worried | 22.93 | 25.81 | 0.86 (0.65–1.14) |
| Very worried | 5.97 | 20.58 | 1.02 (0.63–1.65) |
| Family history of skin cancer | |||
| No | 57.75 | 27.79 | 1 [Reference] |
| Yes | 42.25 | 35.05 | 1.12 (0.88–1.43) |
| Skin sensitivity to the sun | |||
| Turn darker, no sunburn | 39.64 | 23.35 | 1 [Reference] |
| Don’t go out in the sun | 7.87 | 29.55 | 1.07 (0.57–2.01) |
| Mild sunburn | 23.97 | 33.71 | 1.26 (0.94–1.68) |
| Moderate/severe sunburn | 28.52 | 39.41 | 1.46 (1.08–1.97) |
| No. of past year sunburns | |||
| 0 | 75.59 | 30.29 | 1 [Reference] |
| 1 | 12.46 | 34.37 | 1.36 (0.93–1.74) |
| ≥2 | 11.95 | 30.63 | 1.06 (0.75–1.48) |
| Ever indoor tanned | |||
| No | 90.03 | 30.91 | 1 [Reference] |
| Yes | 9.97 | 30.03 | 1.08 (0.74–1.58) |
| Sun protection composite score | |||
| 1.0–2.0 | 30.43 | 24.56 | 1 [Reference] |
| 2.1–3.0 | 41.01 | 30.22 | 1.09 (0.82–1.44) |
| 3.1–4.0 | 16.92 | 41.05 | 1.64 (1.17–2.30) |
| 4.1–5.0 | 3.18 | 49.80 | 2.37 (1.29–4.35) |
| Don’t go out in the sun | 8.46 | 28.73 | 1.07 (0.56–2.05) |
| Physical activity level | |||
| Sedentary | 35.32 | 26.10 | 1 [Reference] |
| Some activity | 19.99 | 31.79 | 1.26 (0.93–1.70) |
| Meet/exceed activity guidelines | 44.69 | 34.31 | 1.43 (1.08–1.89) |
Data Source: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey, 2015 Abbreviations: VA, veterans affairs; HMO, health maintenance organization; AOR, adjusted odds ratio; CO, confidence interval.
a Results of a multivariable logistic regression analysis examining correlates of ever having a physician skin exam. Statistically significant adjusted odds ratios are denoted with bold font. Cases with missing data (2.5% or fewer for each covariate) were excluded from analyses.