{
    "abstract": "In the contemporary era, people are extracting medical information from content-sharing means on the Internet, and the most popular virtual platforms authorize users to access knowledge, guidance, and exchange opinions. Doctors have massively joined online communities and developed educational accounts to meet the informational necessities of general users. The aim of the current study is to identify the role of social media in augmenting the awareness of melanoma.\nFor this observational study, questionnaires were disseminated to the general population over eight weeks consecutively, through online channels, represented by Facebook (Meta Platforms, Inc.,\u00a0Menlo Park, California, United States) and Instagram (Meta Platforms, Inc.,\u00a0Menlo Park, California, United States), to extract qualitative data related to the relationship between social media, the epidemiological variables, and melanoma-associated/sun protection behaviors. The inclusion criteria comprised constant Facebook and Instagram users, aged between 18-65.\nThe study included 221 individuals, primarily aged 26 to 35 (47.1%), mostly females (77.82%). Urban dwellers (>200,000 inhabitants) constituted the majority (71.94%), contrasting with a small rural representation (3.61%). Nearly half actively followed medical educational content online (44.79%), while 12.66% avoided online medical advice. Sun-protective habits were prevalent, with 80.99% using SPF (sun protection factor), 54.29% wearing UV-filter (ultraviolet-filter) sunglasses, and 53.84% avoiding sun exposure between 10 AM and 4 PM. Respondents rated sun-protective measures, with the highest average for avoiding sun exposure during peak hours being 7.3 on a scale of 1 to 10. Dermatological advice from social media influenced behaviors, such as SPF use (50.67%) and sun exposure avoidance (45.7%). Dermatological check-ups were infrequent, with 49.32% sporadically visiting a dermatologist. Dermoscopic evaluations were rare (36.66%), with 27.14% using it preventively. Personal and family history of dysplastic nevi and melanoma were low.\nThis study provides insights into the dermatological behaviors and education of individuals engaging with social media medical content. The results suggest\u00a0that constant users of social media harbor a receptive attitude toward\u00a0dermatological advice provided on specific platforms, hence\u00a0creating an ideal environment for further dissemination and organization of online skin cancer awareness campaigns.",
    "authors": [
        {
            "affiliation": "Institute of Doctoral Studies, Doctoral School of Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanta, Constanta, ROU.\nDepartment of Dermatology, Elias Emergency University Hospital, Bucharest, ROU.",
            "firstname": "Luana-Andreea",
            "initials": "LA",
            "lastname": "Bo\u0219oteanu"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanta, Constanta, ROU.\nClinical Service of Pathology, \"Sf. Apostol Andrei\" Emergency County Hospital, Constanta, ROU.\nDepartment VIII - Medical Sciences, Academy of Romanian Scientists, Bucharest, ROU.",
            "firstname": "Mariana",
            "initials": "M",
            "lastname": "A\u0219chie"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanta, Constanta, ROU.\nClinical Service of Pathology, \"Sf. Apostol Andrei\" Emergency County Hospital, Constanta, ROU.",
            "firstname": "M\u0103d\u0103lina",
            "initials": "M",
            "lastname": "Bo\u0219oteanu"
        }
    ],
    "conclusions": null,
    "copyrights": "Copyright \u00a9 2023, Bo\u0219oteanu et al.",
    "doi": "10.7759/cureus.50328",
    "journal": "Cureus",
    "keywords": [
        "dermatological awareness",
        "melanoma",
        "skin cancer campaigns",
        "social media",
        "sun protection"
    ],
    "methods": null,
    "publication_date": "2024-01-11",
    "pubmed_id": "38205467\n33978589\n29884607\n23388291\n34387054\n16871331\n32025637\n26228234\n33258907\n31329387",
    "results": "The study included 221 individuals, primarily aged 26 to 35 (47.1%), mostly females (77.82%). Urban dwellers (>200,000 inhabitants) constituted the majority (71.94%), contrasting with a small rural representation (3.61%). Nearly half actively followed medical educational content online (44.79%), while 12.66% avoided online medical advice. Sun-protective habits were prevalent, with 80.99% using SPF (sun protection factor), 54.29% wearing UV-filter (ultraviolet-filter) sunglasses, and 53.84% avoiding sun exposure between 10 AM and 4 PM. Respondents rated sun-protective measures, with the highest average for avoiding sun exposure during peak hours being 7.3 on a scale of 1 to 10. Dermatological advice from social media influenced behaviors, such as SPF use (50.67%) and sun exposure avoidance (45.7%). Dermatological check-ups were infrequent, with 49.32% sporadically visiting a dermatologist. Dermoscopic evaluations were rare (36.66%), with 27.14% using it preventively. Personal and family history of dysplastic nevi and melanoma were low.",
    "title": "Online Doc: Is Social Media Education a Tool for Melanoma Prevention? A Survey-Based Analysis Among Romanian Digitally Active Users.",
    "xml": "<Element 'PubmedArticle' at 0x788504db9670>"
}