Behavioral Counseling to Prevent Skin Cancer: A Systematic Review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Background: More than 2 million cases of skin cancer are diag-nosed annually in the United States, and melanoma incidence is increasing. Purpose: To assist the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in up-dating its 2003 recommendation on behavioral counseling to pre-vent skin cancer. Data Sources: Existing systematic reviews, database searches through February 2010, and outside experts. Study Selection: English-language, primary care–relevant counsel-ing trials to promote sun-protective behaviors and studies examin-ing the association between sun-protective behaviors and skin can-cer outcomes or potential adverse effects were included. Data Extraction: Each study was appraised by using design-specific quality criteria. Important study details were abstracted into evi-dence tables