Survey on Skin Cancer in Queensland - Research Proposal Example

Proposal for a Survey on Skin Cancer in Queensland Name: Course: Tutor: Date: Skin Cancer Introduction Skin cancer is a skin condition where skin cells lack the ability to split and develop normally. An outstanding pointer to healthy skin cells is their ability to split in an orderly fashion so as to create room for new skin to develop through restoration of dead cells. Abnormal cells on the other hand, grow excessively and build up a tumour. In cases where the abnormal cells emanate from the skin, then the build up is referred to as skin tumour. Skin tumour is deemed benign if it only affects a small number of skin layers. However, if the tumour affects organs or tissues surrounding it, then it is considered cancerous or malignant. Cancer cells overwhelm and destroy surrounding healthy cells, developing growths referred to as malignant tumours. However, a majority of skin growths are not malignant. Interestingly, there are cases where skin growths metastasize, that is, they spill to other bodily parts and create new tumours. The skin is made up of three layers: the outer layer, referred to as the epidermis; the middle layer, known as the dermis; and the deep layer referred to as the fatty layer. Cancer of the skin emanates from the epidermis, that is, the skin’s outer layer. The epidermis is made up of three types of cells namely, the melanocytes, basal, and squamous cells. If any of these three cells abnormally split, then a growth is likely to develop. The main skin cancer types derive their names from these three cells (Kimlin, 2008; Wang et al, 2005). With the aforementioned background information, the aim of this research is to understand the prevalence of skin cancer in Australia and to ascertain the level of awareness within the Australian society with regards to the disease. Literature Review Literature related to research questions in this paper, basically revolves around skin cancer in Australia, more specifically in Queens land and the public awareness. The research is aimed at ascertaining the role of the government and the media is playing with respect to creating public awareness. For purposes of this study, to facilitate easy and better comprehension of this topic, it is imperative to get acquainted with some of the common types of skin cancer and other related issues. There are three main types of skin, cancer namely basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Each type of skin cancer depicts its own unique appearance. Incidentally there are other skin cancers that restrict themselves to specific bodily areas. Both the basal and squamous cell carcinoma are referred to as nonmelanoma as a way to distinguish them from the deadly skin cancers known as the melanoma (Casanova, 2003). Types of Skin Cancer The most popular type of the three skin cancers named is the basal cell carcinoma. This type of skin cancer develops at a dawdling rate and hardly spreads making it the least lethal of all the three types of skin cancer. The basal cell carcinoma spreads in 1 out of every 1000 patients (Young, 2009). The squamous cell carcinoma is more lethal compared to the basal cell carcinoma since it spreads to and affects essential bodily organs. This skin cancer spreads at a very slow rate and in only rare cases, which is 1 out of every 100. Initially, it spreads to the extent of reaching the closest lymph nodes structures which sieve out and entrap the cancer cells. In a situation where a spread has taken place and has been detected well in advance, then as a measure of avoiding the spread of cancer and damage of essential bodily organs, the lymph node would have to be removed (Young, 2009). Melanoma, the most dangerous type of all the three types of cancers spreads at a rapid rate right from the skin through to the blood or lymph nodes and into the internal bodily organs. Cases of melanoma are rare. This skin cancer instigates from the melanocytes (skin cells that produce pigment). They produce a dark substance that is attributed to the skin’s natural color (Grichnik, 2006). Skin Cancer in Australia Incidences of skin cancer are ranked highest in Australia. Statistics reveal that 2 out of every 3 Australians develop this condition before attaining the age of 70 (Stanton, 2008). This is mainly attributed to the fact that most Australians have pale skins that can easily get damaged by excessive levels of ultra violet radiation common in Australia. This damage grows each year, which in effect increases the risks of attaining skin cancer. Of all the cancer cases diagnosed In Australia, eighty percent are attributed to skin cancer. The health care system spends close to 300 million dollars per annum (Wang et al. 2005). The number of Australians diagnosed with skin cancer by 1999 reached 440,000, broken down as nonmelanoma cases equivalent to 374,000 and about 106,000 cases of melanoma. Every year, more than 1600 people die from cancer related cases (Carter, Marks & Hill, 1999). The highest incidences relating to both melanoma and nonmelanoma are reported in Queensland. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the nonmelanoma skin cancer was identified as the most expensive type of skin cancer in Australia for both men and women with over 264 million dollars being spent annually on treatment alone. According to the institute, study reveals that exposure to the sun in early life years is the most outstanding factor that leads to the development of this condition in later years in life (Kimlin, 2008). Public awareness of skin cancer In spite of evidence relating skin cancer to sun exposure, most Australians especially the young people, are reluctant to take protection measures against the sun. The most effective way of reducing the high rates of skin cancer is through prevention. It is imperative that individuals take preventive measures against skin cancer, more specifically melanoma, given the overwhelming expenses incurred in treatment, personal costs notwithstanding. Vulnerable individuals should therefore avoid exposing themselves to ultraviolet rays as a first step in prevention. An awareness drive was carried out in 2009 aimed at young people falling between the ages of 14 and 17 years (Stanton, 2008). The intention behind the drive was to enlighten this age group on the seriousness of, and their vulnerability to skin cancer. Additionally, the drive was aimed at making these teenagers to embrace and improve the key protection measures against skin cancer. This drive was carried out after a study revealed that one out of every four teenagers in Australia are suffering from sunburns on a weekly basis during summer, and continuous exposure throughout an individual’s lifetime to ultraviolet rays increases chances of skin cancer (Stanton, 2008). Justification and Research Questions This research was aimed at ascertaining the following: What are the individual intentions and behaviours which includes tanning, the number of times and intensity of sunburns and protective measures adopted by the respondents; What is the public awareness and knowledge concerning sun protection measures; What are the personal attitudes relating to protective measures against the sun; What are the advertising awareness and reactions; and, Which age group is more vulnerable to skin cancer? Methods Survey Questionnaires A survey questionnaire was chosen for this research over other data collection methods because it is economical in terms of costs - it saves time in the sense that the researcher applies minimum effort compared to telephone or verbal surveys. Another outstanding characteristic that gave the survey questionnaires an edge in this study over the other methods of data collection is that its questions are standardized; therefore, it makes data compilation easier (Carman, 2010). Standard questions also have a drawback in that there are some instances where users could get frustrated. Other drawbacks arising from the use of the questionnaires as a data collection method is that it is imperative that participants read through them and understand the questions being asked before giving their opinion. The procedure to be used for data collection is through administration of written survey questionnaires. Under this method, the respondents are furnished with written questions which they are to answer in the same fashion. Administration of questionnaires can take any of the following forms: Sending the questionnaires to the respondents though mail with provision of clear well structured instructions to the respondents on how the questions are to be answered and asking the mail to be sent back in the same fashion. This involves taking the entire population of the targeted respondents or a small sample in a specific location, providing them with written or oral instructions on what is to be done. The questionnaires can also be hand-delivered. In this study, data will be collected through administering the questionnaires by all the three methods mentioned that have been pointed out above. The reason behind this procedure is to try as much as possible to achieve accurate results. Incidentally, this would also ensure that everybody is taken on board, which means that the targeted respondents who do not have mail addresses can be reached through hand delivery. Preview of Measures Targeted respondents to this research are teenagers between the ages of 14 and 19 years old, young adults between the ages of 20 to 28 years old, and parents to children between the ages of 0 to 17. This research is stratified not only by age but also by region. The sample is to be selected from Queensland Australia. Appropriate measures have been put in place to ensure that chances of any alterations in the questionnaires are reduced to enable comparisons through time. The results are to be compared with results from two other surveys. Chi square tests are applied in cases of categorical data. It is important to note that if sub-samples of 1000 are used, the results yield a 95% degree of confidence. When carrying out comparisons amongst different surveys, a sample of 1000 would give a confidence level of plus or minus four percent at the level of 0.05. These confidence levels are deemed conservative since they are based on a fifty percent proportion. Proportions that are either big or small yield a narrow degree of confidence. References Carman, B. (2010). Overview of data collection techniques. The International Development Research Centre, 1: 8-27. Carter, R., Marks, R. & Hill, D. (1999). Could a national prevention skin cancer campaign be worthwhile. Health Promotion International 14(1): 73-82. Casanova, M. L. (2003). Inhibition of skin tumour growth and angiogenesis in vivo by activation of cannabinoid receptors. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 111(1): 43-50. Grichnik, J., M. (2006). Melanoma, a tumour based on a mutant stem cell? Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 126:142-153. Kimlin, M. (2008). Queensland public health forum: Under the Queensland sun. Retrieved 26th June 2010, from http://www.health.qld.gov.au/QPHF/documents/qld_sun_strat_plan.pdf. Stanton, W., R (2008). Primary prevention of skin cancer. Journal of Paediatric Oncology, 25(2): 67-78. Wang, H., Radulescu, M., Bock, Weisshaar, E. Bruckner, T., & Diepgen, T. L (2005) Screening for skin cancer in an adult working population. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 125 (16): 755-855. Young, C. (2009). Solar Ultraviolet Radiation and Skin Cancer. Oxford Journals, 59 (2): 82-88. Read More