LAUSR

measure, suggesting we are not educating our patients regarding this risk opportunistically, or that education is not translated into behavioural change. Generalizability is limited by our working age, health-seeking, educated population. Bias may have resulted from the optional nature of this skin check. Additionally, some questions assessed proxy markers for knowledge or patient-reported knowledge, rather than assessing knowledge directly (e.g. ‘do you know what the UV index is?’ and ‘do you know what to look for when examining your skin for signs of skin cancer?’). The prevalence of a skin cancer history in our population was 7.7%. BCC was the most frequently reported (84.6%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (11.5%). This prevalence falls within the ranges of the Australian literature and gives our data face validity. Despite these limitations, we demonstrated a lack of knowledge regarding skin cancer and sun safety knowledge that translates in most patients experiencing sunburn within the last year. We also found that experience with skin cancer (personal or family history) affects knowledge, but not sun safety knowledge or sun safety behaviour. Future interventions should focus on educating the public how to identify NMSCs. Public health campaigns may have contributed to the decline in melanoma rates in Australia since 2005 (other factors such as population admixture and changes in behaviour unrelated to sun-protection promotional activities may be contributory). While significantly less deadly than melanoma, NMSC is incredibly common and early identification can reduce its human and financial costs. The authors wish to thank the staff at the Skin & Cancer Foundation who facilitated the corporate skin checks and Komal Talekar, Claude Matri and Lourdes Orovay for data entry. Approval: The University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC).