Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39888912›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Public knowledge, attitudes, practices, and barriers to skin cancer screening in the United Arab Emirates.

Anan S Jarab, Walid Al-Qerem, Karem H Alzoubi, Mariam Al Mohammad, Shrouq R Abu Heshmeh, Yazid N Al Hamarneh, Tareq Mukattash, Maher Khdour

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Anan S JarabCollege of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Walid Al-QeremFaculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
Karem H AlzoubiDepartment of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.ORCID 0000-0002-2808-5099
Mariam Al MohammadCollege of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Shrouq R Abu HeshmehFaculty of Pharmacy, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.ORCID 0000-0002-6734-9624
Yazid N Al HamarnehFaculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Pharmacology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-3984-3542
Tareq MukattashFaculty of Pharmacy, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.ORCID 0000-0003-0200-9845
Maher KhdourCollege of Pharmacy, Al-Quds University, Abu Dis, Palestine.ORCID 0000-0003-0193-7922

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo assess knowledge, attitude, practice, and barriers to skin cancer screening among the general population of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

methodsIn this cross-sectional study, an online-based questionnaire was distributed via online social media sites such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, and others to the residents of the UAE. The questionnaire evaluated socio-demographics, knowledge (8 items), attitudes (10 items), practices (14 items), and barriers (9 items) in the context of skin cancer screening. A binary logistic regression was conducted to assess variables associated with practice levels.

resultsThe study included 924 participants (51.9% females), with a median (IQR) age of 32 (22-44) years. Results showed a window for knowledge improvement [median = 4 (3-6) out of a maximum potential score of 8], unfavourable attitudes [median = 37 (33-39) out of a maximum potential score of 50], inadequate practices [median = 41 (31-45) out of a maximum possible score of 70]. The most common barriers to skin cancer screening were lack of knowledge about skin cancer (74.1%), lack of awareness of the need for skin cancer screening (72.2%), and absence of symptoms (54.1%). Older age (OR = 0.985, 95%CI: 0.971-0.998) and lack of health insurance (OR = 0.478, 95%CI: 0.301-0.758) were associated with lower screening practices. Female gender (OR = 1.833, 95%CI: 1.361-2.469), being married (OR = 1.415, 95%CI: 1.006-1.992), being a non-smoker (OR = 1.568, 95%CI: 1.045-2.352) or a former smoker (OR = 2.555, 95% CI: 1.082-6.034), and more favourable attitudes (OR = 1.071, 95%CI: 1.044-1.096) were associated with higher screening practices.

conclusionThe UAE population exhibited moderate knowledge, unfavourable attitudes, and inadequate practices regarding skin cancer screening, with several barriers identified. Targeted online and in-person awareness campaigns are crucial for improving public understanding and attitudes, thereby enhancing screening practices, especially among older adults, males, smokers, and those without health insurance.

Indexed as

Early Detection of CancerHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeSkin NeoplasmsAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and QuestionnairesUnited Arab EmiratesYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID39888912
PMCPMC11785263

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.