Self-skin examination for skin cancer detection in high-risk populations: a diagnostic accuracy study and implications for cancer education.

Patient involvement in diagnosis can increase awareness, but self-detection has limitations. This Australian study evaluated 191 surfer and outdoor swimmer recognition of skin conditions using clinician examination and histopathology as reference standards. Self-examination had only modest sensitivity for melanoma and basal cell carcinoma, with substantial false-negative rates and low positive predictive values. The findings, while limited due to the distinct population studied, support self-examination for awareness while illustrating the value of clinician assessment.