Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Path analysis of skin cancer preventive behaviors in rur al women based on protection 
motivation theory  
 
Version: 2 Date: 15 Mar 2020  
 
Reviewer: Dana Bovbjerg  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
The authors have been responsive to the previous review and made numerous improvements to 
the manuscript, but a few issues have not been adequately addressed.  
 
1. Abstract: The second sentence of the Background section regardi ng the aim of the study 
continues to be difficult to understand. It would be clearer if it were changed to: "Based on 
protection motivation theory, the present study conducted a path analysis of skin cancer 
preventive behaviors in rural women to explore su ch factors."  
 
2. Abstract: The Methods section continues to be inaccurate and confusing. I strongly 
recommend it be changed to: "In this cross -sectional study, 243 rural women in the west of Iran 
were randomly selected to receive a valid and reliable quest ionnaire assessing constructs from 
protection motivation theory, as well as demographic information. Fully completed 
questionnaires were returned by 230 women and data were analyzed using SPSS 22 and 
LISREL8.8.  " 
 
3. Discussion: A citation is need at the en d of the sentence: "A study on high school female 
students in Yazd city of Iran indicated that the most performed protective method was using 
sunscreen."  
 
4. I continue to be concerned that problems with the English language throughout the text will 
reduce the impact of the publication of this manuscript, but I leave this issue for the Editor to 
resolve.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify  what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manus cript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects requ ire further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Needs some language corrections before being published  
 
Declaration of competing  interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1.  Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, f ees, funding, or salary 
from an organisation that may in any way gain or lose financial ly from the 
publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2.  Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation t hat may in any way gain or 
lose financially from the publication of this  manuscript, either now or in the 
future?  
 
3.  Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents  relating to the content 
of the manuscript?  
 
4.  Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization 
that holds or has applied f or patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5.  Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6.  Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have  no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understan d that my name will be included 
on my report to the a uthors and, if the manuscript is accepted f or publication, my named report 
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors' 
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons 
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments 
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to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer  review policy of the journal