A Study of Skin Cancer Knowledge, Attitudes, and Preventive Practices Among Healthcare Professionals and the General Population in Pakistan: Insights for Healthcare Interventions and Policy Development

Background: Skin cancer is a major global health issue that can be life-threatening. The current study explores the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of healthcare professionals and the general population regarding skin cancer. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and June 2023 in Lahore, the second-largest city in Pakistan. A total of 407 respondents from the general population and 230 healthcare professionals were recruited using a convenient and snowball sampling technique, respectively. Data were collected using questionnaires and statistical analysis, including chi-square tests, and bivariate logistic regression was performed using SPSS Version 20. Result: In the overall population, 46.4% identified as male, 45.0% as female, and 8.6% chose not to disclose their gender. Significantly differing levels of skin cancer knowledge were observed between genders, with males reporting a higher knowledge (36.4%, crude odds ratio = 1.413, p