Skin Cancer Screening: Individual Decision or Collective Responsibility? The Role of Information in Population Participation

Introduction: The incidence of skin cancer is increasing worldwide, including in Romania. Although early detection is crucial for prognosis, public willingness to participate in screening programs and adopt preventive behaviors remains suboptimal. Objective: This study aimed to assess skin cancer-related knowledge and sun-protection practices among the Romanian population, as well as the motivations and barriers influencing participation in specialist skin cancer screening examinations. Methodology: A quantitative, cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted between November 2025 and January 2026. The analysis included responses from 399 Romanian residents. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and odds ratio (OR) calculations. Results: Only 29.07% of respondents had undergone a specialist skin cancer screening examination at least once in their lifetime. Although women and younger participants (18–39 years) demonstrated significantly higher levels of knowledge, the actual screening rate was higher among men (34.59% vs. 26.32%). The main reasons for non-participation were the absence of symptoms (29.33%) and lack of information (27.56%). A positive family history was associated with a 4.63-fold increase in the odds of screening participation (p < 0.0001), while having a high number of moles was associated with a 2.30-fold increase (p = 0.0005). Regular sunscreen use was low during summer (29.8%) and even lower during winter (22%). Conclusions: The findings confirm that theoretical knowledge alone does not necessarily translate into preventive behavior. Willingness to participate in screening is primarily driven by personal involvement and subjective risk perception. Future interventions should focus on educating asymptomatic individuals and promoting targeted, risk-based screening programs.