Skin Cancer Awareness among Medical Students

This research aims to analyze knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of skin cancer among medical students and increase awareness about prevention practices. It uses a mixed research methodology and primary data collection through a survey questionnaire. The research design includes qualitative and quantitative approaches. The significance of the research lies in the high incidence of skin cancer among young adults and the role of medical students in promoting healthy behaviors.

Running head: APPLIED RESEARCH
Skin cancer, attitude, and beliefs and,
increasing awareness about prevention
practices among medical students

APPLIED RESEARCH 2
Abstract
The aim of this research is to analyze knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of skin cancer among
medical students. And, this knowledge leads to research that skin cancer is the highly hazardous
disease that commonly occurs among young adults and adolescents between the ages of 15-29
years. This research is significant for a medical student to develop the awareness about the skin
cancer because survey was conducted on medical students.
In this research, mixed research methodology was used because it contains the features related to
qualitative and quantitative research approach.
Along with this, primary data collection method was used in this investigation because it helps to
get the reliable data. Primary data was collected via a survey questionnaire and it was conducted
on the medical student by using simple random probability sampling method. In addition to this,
a statistical data assessment method was used to analyze gathered data in this investigation. For
this research, total $1350 would be required and 10 weeks would be required for completing the
investigation. This research discussed that ethical consideration was used to ethically conduct the
research.

APPLIED RESEARCH 3
Table of Contents
Abstract.......................................................................................................................................................2
Study Aim...................................................................................................................................................4
Background.................................................................................................................................................4
Research Design..........................................................................................................................................4
Methodology & Method..............................................................................................................................5
Significance.................................................................................................................................................8
Timeframes.................................................................................................................................................9
Costing......................................................................................................................................................10
References.................................................................................................................................................12
Appendices................................................................................................................................................15

APPLIED RESEARCH 4
Study Aim
The aim of this investigation is to analyze the data about the skin cancer and it would lead to
increase in prevention practices among medical students.
Background
Skin cancer can be uncontrolled enlargement for abnormal skin cells. Moreover, it exists while
unpaired DNA damages for skin cells, highly due to ultraviolet radiation through tanning beds,
sunshine, genetic defects, and trigger mutations that lead the skin cells for reproducing hastily as
well as, creates the malignant tumors (Kirk, & Greenfield, 2017). There are several kinds of skin
cancers like basal cell, Merkel cell carcinoma, Squamous cell carcinoma, Actinic Keratosis,
Melanoma, and basal cell carcinoma (Awadh, Jamshed, Elkalmi, & Hadi, 2016). The melanoma
could be highly hazardous skin cancer. There is significant gain in incidence related to skin
cancer over the current year (Forsea, et. al., 2012).
It is common cancer in young adults and adolescents aged among 15-29 years (Kirk, &
Greenfield, 2017). The highly hazardous kind of skin cancer could be melanoma that can be
expected for diagnosis about 76, 100 individuals in the year of 2014 in USA (Nahar, et. al.,
2018). As per the ministry of health, Turkish Public Health Institute as well as, Cancer Control
Department statistics shows that there were about 4019 total skin cancer cases in the year if
2009. According to healthcare experts, nursing scholars would play a significant role in
endorsing healthy behaviors, social training such as protection against sunlight (Doshi, Firth,
Mintz, & Ehrlich, 2007).
Research Design
In this research, a mixed research design will be implemented by an investigator with the
purpose of accomplishing the goal as well as, objectives of research. This research design

APPLIED RESEARCH 5
contains features of both qualitative and quantitative designs. In this research design, a
researcher will utilize qualitative research design for acquiring the non-numeric information
associated with existing research issues (Bilushi, Luci, Kuneshka, & Maliqari, 2012). This type
of data would be gathered through literature review that helps to support the gathered primary
data (Awadh, Jamshed, Elkalmi, & Hadi, 2016). Moreover, the quantitative investigation will be
executed by investigator for obtaining the responses from research respondents. This type of data
would be gathered through survey through questionnaire as it would help to gather the reliable
data (Yilmaz, et. al., 2015).
Methodology & Method
Sampling
Sampling is practiced for selecting the sample through a high amount of population. In this
investigation, the researcher will use probability sampling techniques for providing equal
chances to select the respondents (Bilushi, Luci, Kuneshka, & Maliqari, 2012). In this technique,
simple random sampling technique would be applied to randomly choose the respondents. This
technique would be beneficial for declining the biasness from research (Kirk, & Greenfield,
2017).
Along with this, reliable data with respect to existing research issues could be delivered through
research respondents who can aid the research scholar in order to obtain a valid conclusion.
Under this investigation, 100 medical students would be selected as a sample size for a university
school of medicine (Ivanov, et. al., 2018). It would aid to gather depth information regarding
skin cancer knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and prevention practices among medical students
(Awadh, Jamshed, Elkalmi, & Hadi, 2016).
Inclusion and exclusion criteria

APPLIED RESEARCH 6
In this research, the medical student would be selected because research issue is related to this
type of students and another type of student would be rejected from survey through questionnaire
because research topic does not focus on other type of student. Along with this, only those
articles would be selected that were published in the year of 2015-2019 (Smith, et. al., 2018).
Type of data will be used (primary or secondary data)
The data gathering technique is a significant concept of the research methodology section as it
helps the investigator for improving the validity as well as reliability about the result of an
investigation. It also provides the assistance for achieving the research by focusing on the aim
and objectives of investigation in a significant way. Data could be collected through several
sources such as primary sources (Ivanov, et. al., 2018).
In this investigation, both primary sources would be used to complete the investigation. It helps
to mitigate the gap between existing data and expected data for the research study. In this way,
primary data would be collected through a survey questionnaire as it helps to pool the fresh as
well as the first hand information. Along with this, close-ended questionnaire structure would be
utilized in designing of a questionnaire for research (Nahar, et. al., 2018). This strategy would be
beneficial for capturing the opinion of respondents with respect to research issues (Iglesias‐
Puzas, Méndez Iglesias, Diéguez Montes, & Flórez, 2019).
Reliability and validity of instruments
Reliability of instrument could be illustrated as the estimated competency for assessing the
measures, reliability scores, as well as, internal consistency regarding the measurement of
instruments. In contrast to this, validity could be illustrated as the technique which provides the
interpretations as well as warranting of outcomes that are relied on a particular test. For this

APPLIED RESEARCH 7
investigation, validity and reliability are addressed by creating a survey through questionnaire
(Rebar, Gersch, Macnee, & McCabe, 2015).
Data analysis
Data analysis is an essential element of research methodology section because it provides the
reliable as well as validity regarding investigation results (Nahar, et. al., 2018). After gathering
the data, a researcher will applied a statistical data analysis tool to analyze the collected data as
well as, interpret it in an effective way (Nieswiadomy, 2012). In such research, a researcher will
utilize Ms-Excel software in this investigation to demonstrate the data through the pie chart, bar
charts and column charts. Consequently, it would help the researcher to comprehend the pooled
data about research concerns (Oliver, 2012).
Potential findings
This research would develop the awareness about skin care. It would also provide knowledge,
attitudes, and beliefs of skin cancer among medical students. It would also discuss the prevention
practices of skin care.
Significance
The possibility of creating the skin cancer is high in several nations. It is highly diagnosed cancer
in the US. Melanoma is a serious form for skin cancer. Moreover, artificial as well as solar
ultraviolet exposure is the key cause of skin cancer. Furthermore, sufficient technique of primary
prevention support for declining the development related to new skin cancer. It could be an
appropriate topic. In addition, medical students and future physicians would play a significant
role to prevent the skin cancer by becoming directly entailed in the prevention of skin cancer
education as well as, counseling to patients regarding the risk of ultraviolet (Panter, & Sterba,
2011).

APPLIED RESEARCH 8
The reviews explain the requirement for educating the medical students regarding the skin cancer
as well as, skin cancer behavior. In addition, educational campaigns together with, new strategies
could be developed. Previous investigations focus on important findings such as moderate-to-
high levels of skin cancer understanding as well as, low level of both sunscreen and UV light
understanding. This investigation was performed on medical students of several nations
(Melnyk, & Fineout-Overholt, 2015). I select this topic because of the importance to obtain
understanding regarding the skin cancer.
Ethical Considerations
The researcher can face several types of ethical concern at the time of attainment of research and
it can unfavorably influence the reliability with the validity of research outcome. Authentic data
and resources can be analyzed through an investigator for avoiding the ethical concern with
regards to plagiarism. Moreover, the researcher will take into consideration of own words for
writing the investigation with feasible understanding with respect to the investigation (Oliver,
2012).
At the end of the research, an investigator will consider bibliography and used to an in-text
citation for overcoming the issues associated with copyright. In addition to this, a record of
personal data about research candidates would be kept confidential through investigator for
avoiding the ethical concerns from primary data gathering. In addition, the researcher will not
share private data about candidates to anyone for developing their trust during the survey through
questionnaire (Rebar, Gersch, Macnee, & McCabe, 2015).
Timeframes

APPLIED RESEARCH 9
Gantt chart is used to graphically represent the activities that would be performed and the
schedule of completing each activity (Nieswiadomy, 2012). The given below time framework
would be used in this research:
Activities, which would be used by the investigator
Number of weeks for performing
these activities
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Developing aims of the research
Gathering data through literature review
Designing of questionnaire
Selecting a feasible sample from a high amount of
population
Data analysis and findings
Final report writing after drafting
Report submission
Through the above timetable, it can be evaluated that there are different activities that would be
performed during research. These activities are a selection of appropriate research concern,
developing aims of the research, gathering data through primary and secondary sources,
designing of questionnaire, selecting a feasible sample from the high amount of population, data
analysis and findings, final report writing after drafting, and report submission (Oliver, 2012). In
this research, conducting a survey through questionnaire as well as gathering the information
through secondary sources would take maximum time i.e. 3 weeks as compared to other
practices.
Costing
Milestone for completing the
research
Projected Amount (in ASD)
Accessing literature 300
The pooling of data through survey
questionnaire
600
Data analysis 450
Total expected cost 1350

APPLIED RESEARCH 10
The detail of cost is described as given below:
The budget for completing the investigation would be about $1350 for completing the aim of the
project in targeted time duration. The given components will be considered in the budget:
There are several secondary sources that would be considered into a literature review. These
secondary sources could be online resources, academic journals, textbooks, and online and
offline resources. It cannot be analyzed without compensating the funds as there is a requirement
of about $300 in order to purchase the resources.
Data gathering is an essential activity as it helps to pool the relevant data related to the research
concern. Therefore, an investigator would be required $600 for conducting the survey through
questionnaire on employees. Since, it would be effective to gather the information regarding skin
cancer knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs among medical students (Nieswiadomy, 2012).
For developing the tables, graphs, and charts associated with research concern, an investigator
would be required about $450.

APPLIED RESEARCH 11
References
Awadh, A. I., Jamshed, S., Elkalmi, R. M., & Hadi, H. (2016). The use of sunscreen products
among final year medicine and pharmacy students: A cross-sectional study of knowledge,
attitude, practice, and perception. Journal of research in pharmacy practice, 5(3), 193.
Bilushi, Y., Luci, R., Kuneshka, L., & Maliqari, N. (2012). Prevalence of sun protection, skin
self-examination, and skin cancer screening behaviors and practices among medical
students in Tirana, Albania with family history for skin cancer. European Medical,
Health and Pharmaceutical Journal, 4.
Doshi, D. N., Firth, K., Mintz, M., & Ehrlich, A. (2007). A pilot study of a skin cancer education
curriculum for medical students. Journal of the American Academy of
Dermatology, 56(1), 167-169.
Forsea, I. Popescu, G. Turcu, C. Giurcaneanu, A. Geller(2012). Knowledge, behavior, and
attitudes related to skin cancer prevention among final year medical students EJD, 22 (6)
pp. 790-791
Iglesias‐Puzas, Á., Méndez Iglesias, M., Diéguez Montes, M. P., & Flórez, Á. (2019).
Assessment of sun‐related behavior, knowledge, and attitudes among nursing
students. Photodermatology, photoimmunology & Photomedicine.
Ivanov, N. N., Swan, A., Guseman, E. H., Whipps, J., Jensen, L. L., & Beverly, E. A. (2018).
Medical Students' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors With Regard to Skin Cancer and
Sun-Protective Behaviors. The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 118(7),
444-454.

APPLIED RESEARCH 12
Kirk, L., & Greenfield, S. (2017). Knowledge and attitudes of UK university students in relation
to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure and their sun-related behaviors: a qualitative
study. BMJ Open, 7(3), e014388.
Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (Eds.). (2015). Evidence-based practice in nursing and
healthcare: A guide to best practice (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams &
Wilkins.
Nahar, V. K., Wilkerson, A. H., Ghafari, G., Martin, B., Black, W. H., Boyas, J. F., ... &
Grigsby, T. B. (2018). Skin cancer knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and prevention practices
among medical students: A systematic search and literature review. International journal
of women's dermatology, 4(3), 139-149.
Nieswiadomy, R. M. (2012). Foundations of nursing research (6th ed.). Boston, England:
Pearson.
Oliver, P. (2012). Succeeding with your literature review. Maidenhead, England: Open
University Press.
Panter, A.T. & Sterba, S. K. (2011). Handbook of ethics in quantitative methodology. UK:
Routledge.
Rebar, C. R., Gersch, C. J., Macnee, C. L., & McCabe, S. (2015). Understanding nursing
research: Using research in evidence-based practice (4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA:
Lippincott Williams Wilkins.
Smith, N., Finn, M., Segars, L., Burns, E., Peterson, J., Sutton, A., ... & Menser, M. (2018).
Melanoma and medical education: knowledge and sun safety practices amongst medical
students. Our Dermatology Online, 9(1), 11.

APPLIED RESEARCH 13
Yilmaz, M., Yavuz, B., Subasi, M., Kartal, A., Celebioglu, A., Kacar, H., & Altiparmak, S.
(2015). Skin cancer knowledge and sun protection behavior among nursing
students. Japan Journal of Nursing Science, 12(1), 69-78.

APPLIED RESEARCH 14
Appendices
Timeframe:
Activities, which would be used by an investigator
Number of weeks for performing
these activities
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Selection of appropriate research concern
Developing aims of the research
Gathering data through primary and secondary
sources
Designing of questionnaire
Selecting a feasible sample from a high amount of
population
Data analysis and findings
Final report writing after drafting
Report submission
Cost:
Milestone for completing the
research
Projected Amount (in ASD)
Accessing literature 300
The pooling of data through a
survey questionnaire
600
Data analysis 450
Total expected cost 1350