Low Rate of Dermatology Outpatient Visits in Asian-Americans
Low Rate of Dermatology Outpatient Visits in Asian-Americans
Of the 564 individuals who visited the survey website, 506 (89.7%) completed the survey. To ensure an Asian-American population, individuals who self-identified as only "white" (n = 27) or "other" (n = 10) were excluded from the study. The final study sample included 469 individuals. Table 1 shows the demographic characteristics of this group. The most common self-identified races in the study sample were Chinese (39%), Japanese (18%), Taiwanese (8%), Filipino (7%), Korean (7%), and Vietnamese (6%). Other groups represented (<6% each) include Pacific Islander, Thai, Laotian, Cambodian, African-American, and Caucasian (individuals were allowed to select more than one race or ethnicity to allow for mixed race). Thirty-four percent of individuals were born outside of the United States (first-generation), while 37%, 9%, 6%, and 2% self-identified as second, third, fourth, and fifth generation Americans, respectively. To further assess the degree of cultural identification, respondents were also asked to self-rate their acculturation, with 15% identifying their acculturation as "mostly Asian", 10% as "very Asian", 34% as "bicultural", 19% as "mostly westernized", and 10% as "very westernized".
Overall, only 48% of respondents reported ever having their skin checked by a dermatologist. Univariate analyses on the primary outcome of "ever had skin checked by a dermatologist" are presented in Table 2. In multivariate analysis, the only variable significantly associated with "ever having skin checked by dermatologist" was "ever performed a skin self-examination", (p < 0.0012) (Table 2). Only 60% of respondents had ever performed an SSE. In multivariate analysis, a family history of skin cancer and "ever having skin checked by dermatologist" showed a trend toward significance (p = 0.06).
To explore predictors of "having skin checked by a dermatologist", multiple multivariate analyses varying the variables were performed, after accounting for multi-collinearity or interaction (results shown in Table 3). Significant predictors of "having skin checked by a dermatologist" included Ever Performed SSE (p < 0.0001), marital status (p = 0.02), generation in the United States (p = 0.03), and family history of skin cancer (p = 0.03).
Results
Of the 564 individuals who visited the survey website, 506 (89.7%) completed the survey. To ensure an Asian-American population, individuals who self-identified as only "white" (n = 27) or "other" (n = 10) were excluded from the study. The final study sample included 469 individuals. Table 1 shows the demographic characteristics of this group. The most common self-identified races in the study sample were Chinese (39%), Japanese (18%), Taiwanese (8%), Filipino (7%), Korean (7%), and Vietnamese (6%). Other groups represented (<6% each) include Pacific Islander, Thai, Laotian, Cambodian, African-American, and Caucasian (individuals were allowed to select more than one race or ethnicity to allow for mixed race). Thirty-four percent of individuals were born outside of the United States (first-generation), while 37%, 9%, 6%, and 2% self-identified as second, third, fourth, and fifth generation Americans, respectively. To further assess the degree of cultural identification, respondents were also asked to self-rate their acculturation, with 15% identifying their acculturation as "mostly Asian", 10% as "very Asian", 34% as "bicultural", 19% as "mostly westernized", and 10% as "very westernized".
Overall, only 48% of respondents reported ever having their skin checked by a dermatologist. Univariate analyses on the primary outcome of "ever had skin checked by a dermatologist" are presented in Table 2. In multivariate analysis, the only variable significantly associated with "ever having skin checked by dermatologist" was "ever performed a skin self-examination", (p < 0.0012) (Table 2). Only 60% of respondents had ever performed an SSE. In multivariate analysis, a family history of skin cancer and "ever having skin checked by dermatologist" showed a trend toward significance (p = 0.06).
To explore predictors of "having skin checked by a dermatologist", multiple multivariate analyses varying the variables were performed, after accounting for multi-collinearity or interaction (results shown in Table 3). Significant predictors of "having skin checked by a dermatologist" included Ever Performed SSE (p < 0.0001), marital status (p = 0.02), generation in the United States (p = 0.03), and family history of skin cancer (p = 0.03).