Regional differences in medical needs and care for skin cancer across Bavaria: confronting the gap

Background: The management of keratinocyte carcinoma (KC) and actinic keratosis (AK) as well as the number of dermatologists differ across the Bavarian counties in Germany. Objectives: To determine regions with low utilization rates of dermatological care and a high medical need due to AK and KC burden. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study of 2,483 people was carried out during the Munich Oktoberfest in September 2016. Participants from urban, semi-urban and rural areas completed a questionnaire and received a medical examination on site by dermatologists. Results: The rate of previous skin cancer screening and previous treatment by dermatologists ranged from 18.8% to 58.6% and from 34.3% to 75.4% for all regions, respectively. Over 60% of people living in the environs or rural areas would consult a dermatologist first if they found a visible skin condition. Thus, people living in urban areas were twice as likely as people living in rural areas to consult a dermatologist first (odds ratio = 2.16; 95% CI: 1.38–3.39). Comparing the three different locations, dermatologists detected the highest AK burden among people living in rural areas (27.3% of the participants) and the highest KC burden among people living in urban areas (3.4% of the participants). Conclusion: In rural areas, a high AK burden coupled with a low utilization rate of dermatological care was observed. To effectively address these problems, a broader implementation of alternative medical resources, such as teledermatology, might improve access to health care.