[Patients' knowledge of the risk of skin cancer following kidney transplantation].

Introduction: Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) increases the rate of morbidity and mortality in kidney transplant patients. Studies have shown that kidney transplanted patients have at least a 3-4-fold increased risk of cancers. Organ-transplanted (OT) patients therefore constitute a known and growing risk population. Careful information of the patient and prophylactic measures are thus strongly indicated.

Material And Methods: A questionnaire was sent to 110 kidney-transplanted patients in Region Sjaelland, Denmark. Patients were identified through Nephrology Departments. A total of 75 patients responded. The object of the questionnaire was to describe the level of information among the patients and the scope and frequency of any skin examination they underwent following transplantation.

Results: Responders did not differ from non-responders regarding gender and age. Among the responders, 22 (29%) had received oral information prior to transplantation and 38 (51%) after transplantation. A total of nine (12%) patients had received written information prior to transplantation and 18 (24%) after. In all, 39 (53%) were well-informed on their increased risk of NMSC. Only four patients (5%) had their skin and lymph nodes examined at follow-up visits by the physician responsible for the proper functioning of the transplant.

Conclusion: This study shows that kidney transplanted patients do not receive adequate information about increased risk of skin cancer and the necessity of photoprotection. Furthermore, the rate of examination by a dermatologist is very low. Both parameters could be improved by a structured plan for patient information and follow-up visits.