scholarly journals UV-Induced Skin Cancer Knowledge, Sun Exposure, and Tanning Behavior among University Students: Investigation of an Opportunity Sample of German University Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Marc Rocholl ◽  
Julia Hannappel ◽  
Michaela Ludewig ◽  
Swen Malte John
Keyword(s):  
Skin Cancer ◽  
University Students ◽  
Literature Search ◽  
Sun Exposure ◽  
Sun Protection ◽  
High Risk Group ◽  
Cancer Knowledge ◽  
Internal Reliability ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Level Of Knowledge

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is the most important risk factor for developing skin cancer. University students can be considered as a particularly high-risk group for long- and short-term adverse effects of UVR due to intensive solar UVR exposure and high rates of sunburn. While validated questionnaires for assessing solar UVR exposure and sun protection behavior are available in German, a questionnaire for assessing the level of knowledge about this topic is still missing. We conducted a literature search for cross-sectional studies assessing skin cancer and sun protection knowledge among university students in Medline (via PubMed) and analyzed existing questionnaires and topics contained therein. We chose to translate the “Skin Cancer and Sun Knowledge Scale” referring to the TRAPD method into the German language and pilot-tested the translation with an opportunity sample of German students. The literature search revealed 36 eligible studies. Four major topics were identified within the studies: knowledge on skin cancer, risk factors, UVR, and sun protection measures. One hundred and seven German university students (86.0% female) with a mean age of 26.25 years (SD ± 4.58; range: 19–46) participated in our pilot study. The internal reliability of the scale was KR-20 = 0.624. We discovered an improvable level of knowledge in terms of skin cancer among the study population. Statistical analyses revealed no significant associations between the level of knowledge and UVR exposure or tanning behavior, respectively. The skin cancer and sun protection knowledge of German university students should be examined thoroughly. While the psychometric properties of the SCSK require further thorough investigation, first empirical experiences indicate the suitability of the tool to assess the level of knowledge regarding skin cancer and sun protection.

scholarly journals What Sun Protection Practices Should Be Adopted by Trainee Teachers to Reduce the Risk of Skin Cancer and Other Adverse Outcomes?

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 529
Author(s):  
Guillermo De Castro-Maqueda ◽  
Carolina Lagares Franco ◽  
José V. Gutiérrez-Manzanedo ◽  
Fabriziomaria Gobba ◽  
Nuria Blázquez Sánchez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skin Cancer ◽  
University Students ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Sun Exposure ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Sun Protection ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Adequate Knowledge ◽  
Sun Protection Practices

Excessive sun exposure and insufficient protection are the main risk factors for the onset of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer (the most common types of cancer suffered by fair-skinned populations) and other adverse effects on the skin and eyes. Epidemiological data highlight the scant awareness of this risk among young people and the high rates of sunburn often recorded among this population. The main aim of the present study is to examine sun exposure and protection behavior by university students. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was undertaken to investigate sun exposure and protection practices among students of education sciences at a university in southern Spain. The data obtained were used to perform a descriptive, comparative analysis, by groups and by gender, of photoprotection and skin self-examination practices. The reliability and validity of the questionnaire were both tested. Of the 315 students who completed the questionnaire, 74.6% had suffered at least one sunburn during the previous year. Few made frequent use of sunscreen or protective clothing and 89.5% did not self-examine their skin. The metric properties of the questionnaire revealed its excellent reliability and validity. Among the Spanish university students considered, there was little awareness of the risk of excessive sun exposure, self-protection was insufficient, the potential exposure to dangerous levels of ultraviolet radiation was high, and most had suffered one or more sunburns in the last year. Intervention strategies should be implemented to highlight the risks involved and the need for more appropriate sun protection practices. Information campaigns should be conducted in this respect so that, when these students become teachers, they will have adequate knowledge of the risks involved and of the benefits of addressing this problem effectively, and will ultimately transfer these health education competences to their own students.

scholarly journals Sun Protective Behaviors and Attitudes of Runners

Sports ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Adam S. Tenforde ◽  
Michael Fredericson ◽  
Kierann E. S. Toth ◽  
Kristin L. Sainani
Keyword(s):  
Skin Cancer ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Sun Exposure ◽  
Sun Protection ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Comfort Level ◽  
Cancer Knowledge ◽  
Protective Behaviors ◽  
Cross Sectional

Sun exposure is a risk factor for skin cancer. Knowledge and behaviors around sun exposure protective measures are poorly described in athletes including runners. Our primary objective was to describe sun exposure behaviors and knowledge in a population of runners. A cross-sectional online survey was administered to 697 runners to measure the frequency of seven sun protective behaviors: sunscreen use on the face or body; wearing a hat, sunglasses, or long sleeves; running in shade; and avoidance of midday running. Between 54% and 84% of runners reported that they engaged in these behaviors at least sometimes, but only 7% to 45% reported frequent use. Of 525 runners who gave a primary reason for not using sunscreen regularly, 49.0% cited forgetfulness; 17.3% cited discomfort; and only a small percentage cited maintaining a tan (6.1%) or optimizing vitamin D (5.1%). Of 689 runners who responded to a question about what factor most influences their overall sun exposure habits, 39.2% cited fear of skin cancer, 28.7% cited comfort level, and 15.8% cited fear of skin aging. In addition to the seven individual behaviors, we also asked runners how frequently they took precautions to protect against the sun overall. We explored associations between participant characteristics and the overall use of sun protection using ordinal logistic regression. Overall, sun protection was used more frequently in runners who were female, older, or had a history of skin cancer. Runners appear to recognize the importance of sun protection and the potential consequences of not using it, but report forgetfulness and discomfort as the biggest barriers to consistent use. Interventions using habit-formation strategies and self-regulation training may prove to be most useful in closing this gap between knowledge and practice.

scholarly journals Predictors of Sun Protective Behaviors among Latino Day Laborers

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier F. Boyas ◽  
Vinayak K. Nahar
Keyword(s):  
Skin Cancer ◽  
High Risk Group ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Skin Cancer Prevention ◽  
Day Laborers ◽  
Cancer Knowledge ◽  
Protective Behaviors ◽  
Solar Ultraviolet Radiation ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Latino Day Laborers

Objectives. Despite the substantial solar ultraviolet radiation experienced by Latino day laborers, little attention has been given to factors that are associated with sun protective behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine psychological and nonpsychological predictors of sun protective behaviors among Latino day laborers. Methods. This cross-sectional study included a nonrandom sample of 137 Latino day laborers recruited from Mississippi and Illinois. Participants completed a self-report survey instrument, available in English and Spanish, on sun protective behaviors. Results. Multivariate regression results showed that sun protective behaviors were significantly greater among Latino day laborers: (a) who had greater perceptions that their supervisor also engaged in sun protective behaviors (β=0.25, p≤0.01); (b) who reported higher levels of health literacy (β=0.23, p≤0.001); (c) who have greater knowledge of skin cancer risk factors (β=0.21, p≤0.01); and (d) who have skin tone that was self-perceived to be more prone to sunburns (β=0.19, p≤0.01). Conclusions. Latino day laborers possess marginal levels of skin cancer knowledge and engage minimally in sun protective behaviors. Skin cancer prevention interventions are warranted for this high-risk group, particularly in the locations in which Latino day laborers work.

scholarly journals Skin Cancer Knowledge, Beliefs, Self-Efficacy, and Preventative Behaviors among North Mississippi Landscapers

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinayak K. Nahar ◽  
M. Allison Ford ◽  
Jeffrey S. Hallam ◽  
Martha A. Bass ◽  
Amanda Hutcheson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skin Cancer ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Service Industry ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Health Belief ◽  
Sun Protection ◽  
Cancer Knowledge ◽  
Solar Ultraviolet Radiation ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cancer History

There are slightly over one million workers in the landscape service industry in the US. These workers have potential for high levels of solar ultraviolet radiation exposure, increasing their risk of skin cancer. A cross-sectional sample of 109 landscapers completed a self-administered questionnaire based on Health Belief Model (HBM). The participants correctly answered 67.1% of the knowledge questions, 69.7% believed they were more likely than the average person to get skin cancer, and 87.2% perceived skin cancer as a severe disease. Participants believed that the use of wide-brimmed hats, long sleeved shirts/long pants, and sunscreen was beneficial but reported low usage of these and other sun protective strategies. The primary barriers to using sun protection were “I forget to wear it” and “it is too hot to wear.” Of the HBM variables, perceived benefits outweighing perceived barrier (, ) and self-efficacy (, ) were correlated with sun protection behaviors. The reasons for absence of the relationship between perceived skin cancer threat and sun protection behaviors could be lack of skin cancer knowledge and low rate of personal skin cancer history.

scholarly journals Skin Cancer Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors in Collegiate Athletes

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney Hobbs ◽  
Vinayak K. Nahar ◽  
M. Allison Ford ◽  
Martha A. Bass ◽  
Robert T. Brodell
Keyword(s):  
Skin Cancer ◽  
Collegiate Athletes ◽  
Sun Exposure ◽  
Sun Protection ◽  
Cancer Knowledge ◽  
Attitudes And Behaviors ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
And Behavior

Outdoor athletes represent an important group at risk for skin cancer because they are routinely exposed to high levels of ultraviolet radiation. The purpose of this study was to assess current skin cancer knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among collegiate athletes. A modified version of the Melanoma Risk Behavior Survey was completed by 343 athletes attending a Southern University in the USA, generating an 87% response rate. Survey results demonstrated that the majority of the athletes do not limit their sun exposure and reported low levels of sun protective behaviors. In addition, athletes lacked knowledge about skin cancer and sun protection. Eighty-three percent of the athletes stated that tanning beds improve one’s overall health. Race was significantly associated with skin cancer knowledge, whereas, gender was found to be significantly associated with knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards skin cancer. Additionally, there was a significant relationship between knowledge and behavior, but not between attitude and behavior. This study highlights the need to educate athletes about the hazards of tanning to minimize UV exposure and promote sun protection habits. Moreover, athletes should be educated on the dangers of indoor tanning facilities and encouraged to avoid these facilities.

scholarly journals Attitudes and Behaviors That Impact Skin Cancer Risk among Men

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (19) ◽  
pp. 9989
Author(s):  
Gabrielle J. Adams ◽  
Elianna K. Goldstein ◽  
Beth G. Goldstein ◽  
Kristen L. Jarman ◽  
Adam O. Goldstein
Keyword(s):  
Skin Cancer ◽  
Sun Exposure ◽  
Sun Protection ◽  
Amazon Mechanical Turk ◽  
Protective Behaviors ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Attitudes And Behaviors ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Protective Methods

Despite substantially higher skin cancer risks, little research has investigated men’s attitudes about skin cancer and how those attitudes relate to their risks of developing skin cancer. This study aims to close the gap in research, regarding men’s perceptions and behaviors about skin cancer, sun exposure, and tanning. This study utilized a cross-sectional survey of 705 men recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk), reporting attitudes and behaviors towards sun exposure, tanning, and sun protection. While the majority of men reported large daily outdoor activities, that their skin frequently burns with sun exposure, and riskier perceptions of tanning, only a minority reported daily use of sunscreen or most other sun protective behaviors. More sun protection methods were associated with more frequent use of sunscreen and less positive tanning perceptions. Men consistently engaged in high-risk behaviors for developing skin cancer, but they did not engage highly in protective behaviors to mitigate their risk. The findings can help improve clinical and public health interventions to lower men’s risk of skin cancer with strong messages about sunscreen use and sun protective methods.

scholarly journals Assessment of knowledge of skin cancer prevention and its relation with sun exposure and photo protection amongst gym academy members on the south of Santa Catarina, Brazil

2012 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariana Rocha Fabris ◽  
Edson Souza Machado Durães ◽  
Beatriz Castellar de Faria Martignago ◽  
Luiz Felipe de Oliveira Blanco ◽  
Thiago Rocha Fabris
Keyword(s):  
Skin Cancer ◽  
Cancer Prevention ◽  
Sun Exposure ◽  
Sun Protection ◽  
Protective Measure ◽  
Skin Cancer Prevention ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Study Results ◽  
The World

BACKGROUND: Skin cancer is the most frequent neoplasia in several parts of the world and also in Brazil. There is evidence of an increase in morbidity and mortality from skin cancer. Although the incidence of skin cancer is increasing, it is estimated that 45% of all preventable cancers worldwide are skin neoplasias. Several studies have emphasized the need for campaigns to encourage sun protection. OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge about skin cancer prevention and its association with sun exposure and photo protection in gym members. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive and quantitative study during January to July 2009, including gym members of both sexes in the city of Criciuma. A self-administered questionnaire was used. The statistical analysis was conducted in a descriptive way in regards to the absolute and relative frequencies of the variables under study. RESULTS: Of the 317 questionnaires studied, 62% were from women and 38% from men. Skin types II and III predominated, and the average age was 27.6 years. 94.3% of the participants reported that they had heard about the risks of sun exposure, mostly in terms of skin cancer risk (80.8%). Most participants, especially women, reported some form of sun protective measure. CONCLUSION: The population studied, similar to that in other regions of Brazil and the world, is aware of the risks of excessive sun exposure and skin cancer prevention, but has not yet incorporated appropriate sun protection measures into their daily habits.

scholarly journals Sun Exposure and Protection Practices of Spanish University Students of Education Sciences. Are Future Teachers Protected Against Skin Cancer and Other Adverse Effects?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillermo De Castro-Maqueda ◽  
Carolina Lagares Franco ◽  
José V. Gutiérrez-Manzanedo ◽  
Fabriziomaria Gobba ◽  
Nuria Blázquez Sánchez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skin Cancer ◽  
University Students ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Sun Exposure ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Information Campaigns ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Metric Properties ◽  
Adequate Knowledge

Background: Excessive sun exposure, together with insufficient protection, is the main risk factor for the onset of Melanoma and Non Melanoma skin cancer, namely the most common cancer in fair-skinned populations across the world, and of several other skin and eye adverse health effects. Epidemiological data show the existence of scant awareness of this risk, and of high rates of sunburn among young people. The main aim of the present study is to examine sun exposure habits and protection behaviour in university students. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study to investigate sun exposure and protection practices in a group of education sciences students at a university in southern Spain. This survey provided data for a descriptive and comparative analysis, by groups and gender, of photoprotection and skin self-examination practices. The reliability and validity of the questionnaire have been analysed. Results: The questionnaire was completed by 315 students. Most of them (74.6%) have suffered at least one sunburn in the last year. The use of sunscreen or protective clothing is not frequent, and 89.5% of students do not self-examine their skin. The metric properties of the questionnaire showed high values of reliability and validity. Conclusions: The awareness of solar exposure risk in Spanish university students of Education Sciences is low, self-protection is scant, the potential exposure to dangerous levels of UV radiation is high and most students have suffered one or more sunburns in the last year. Intervention strategies should be introduced in these students to highlight the risks involved and the need of more adequate sun protection practices. Information campaigns should be conducted to address the problem so that, when these students become teachers, they have an adequate knowledge of the risk and of the benefits of a higher attention to this problem, and can translate these competences in health education.

Skin cancer knowledge and prevention practices: Turkish Bus Drivers

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Nukhet Kirag ◽  
Serap Gokce Eskin
Keyword(s):  
Skin Cancer ◽  
Health Centre ◽  
Sun Exposure ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cancer Knowledge ◽  
Bus Drivers ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Western Turkey ◽  
History Of ◽  
Knowledge Scale

Abstract Objective: To determine skin cancer knowledge levels and prevention practices among bus drivers. Methods: The cross sectional study was conducted in Ayd?n province, western Turkey, from April to June 2018, and comprised bus drivers who came to the primary health centre. Data was collected using a predesigned questionnaire based on sociodemographic characteristics and the Skin Cancer and Sun Knowledge Scale. Data was analysed using SPSS 16. Results: There were 125 male bus drivers with a mean age of 42.0±9.1 years. There was a significant relationship between history of skin cancer in the family and the presence of freckles (p<0.05). Those who were exposed to the sun for one or two hours a day scored higher on the knowledge scale than those with a sun exposure of >2 hours a day  (p<0.05). Conclusion: The bus drivers did not have enough knowledge about the critical significance of skin cancer. Key Words: Sun protection, Drivers, Skin, Cancer, Turkey. Continuous...

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