scholarly journals Attitudes and Behaviors Regarding Sun-Protection Practices Among Minority Groups in a Lower Socioeconomic Community

Author(s):  
Alexander T Nguyen ◽  
Jonathan Fergus ◽  
Tess N Engel ◽  
Adeel Ashfaq ◽  
James Luong ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Although skin cancer is less common, minorities present with more advanced stages at diagnosis and have worse outcomes. Literature on this disparity is limited.Objective: To evaluate attitudes influencing sun protective behaviors, skin cancer risk perception, and dermatologist access among an underserved, racially/ethnically diverse community.Methods: A cross-sectional survey of patients at 5 ethnically diverse student-run, free primary care clinics in Sacramento, California.Results: 390 surveys were collected with a response rate: 86.4%. Overall, respondents did not use sunscreen, rarely sunburned, were unsure or perceived themselves at low risk for skin cancer and reported limited access to dermatologists. Compared to Whites, Latinos were likely to believe it was not worth getting sunburned to be tan (OR = 24.43, 95% CI: 9.37 to 63.3, P < 0.0001). Whites were more likely than Asians (OR = 3.69, 95% CI: 1.50 to 9. 11, P = 0.004) and Latinos (OR = 4.83, 95% CI: 1.83 to 12.8, P = 0.001) to perceive access to dermatology care.Limitations: Response bias, sampling bias, generalizabilityConclusions: Ethnic groups differ in knowledge of sun protection and self-perceived skin cancer risk. The Latino community showed discrepancies between sun protection knowledge and practices, serving as an interventional target.

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Rainous ◽  
Eli J. Herrmann ◽  
Samuel P. Abraham

Young adults are known for feeling invincible and thus engaging in risky behaviors. One such risky behavior is not protecting themselves from the sun, which can cause skin cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine the skin cancer risk-lowering behaviors and skincare habits among youth ages 18 to 25 years. The findings indicated that a high level of knowledge does not equal regular use of risk-lowering behaviors. This study was quantitative, cross-sectional, and non-experimental. The survey, consisting of 20 Likert-type scale statements, was given in a college consisting of about 2000 students of which 120 college undergraduates participated. Orem’s self-care theory was used as a guide for the study. Participants tended to agree that the use of sunscreen would help protect them from getting skin cancer (M=2.88, SD=0.57), and that sunlight causes skin cancer (M=2.80, SD=0.70). Despite having an adequate level of knowledge on skin cancer risk factors, individuals did not follow through with correct risk-lowering behaviors. For risk-lowering behaviors, more than half of the participants regularly used sunscreen when exposed to the sun (M=2.50, SD=0.90), and most never used tanning beds (M=1.20, SD=0.60).


1999 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 344-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Glanz ◽  
Robert A. Lew ◽  
Valerie Song ◽  
Valerie Ah Cook

A better understanding of factors influencing sun protection practices can improve the design and evaluation of skin cancer prevention programs. These data are from a cross-sectional survey of 756 parents with children in Grades 1 through 3, and 176 recreation program staff members in a multiethnic population in Hawaii. Questionnaires asked about skin cancer prevention practices (sunscreen use, covering up, shade seeking), knowledge, benefits and barriers, policies, and staff norms for prevention. The most important correlates of children’s prevention practices were their parents’ sun protection habits. Multiple regression models—which included knowledge, beliefs, program policies, and covariates related to sun protection—explained a total of between 38% and 41% of the variance in children’s sun safety habits, 22% to 25% of parents’habits, and 24% of recreation staff members’sun safety habits. The models were less successful at predicting the use of hats, shirts, and shade seeking and a composite sun protection habits index. Parents and caregivers’knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors, as well as recreation program policies, are strong predictors of sun protection practices among children in Grades 1 to 3 in a multiethnic sample.


Author(s):  
Gabrielle J. Adams ◽  
Elianna K. Goldstein ◽  
Beth G. Goldstein ◽  
Kristen L. Jarman ◽  
Adam O. Goldstein

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.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlin Horsham ◽  
Josephine Auster ◽  
Marguerite Sendall ◽  
Melissa Stoneham ◽  
Philippa Youl ◽  
...  

Background Outdoor workers are at high risk of harmful ultraviolet radiation exposure and are identified as an at risk group for the development of skin cancer. This systematic evidence based review provides an update to a previous review published in 2007 about interventions for the prevention of skin cancer in outdoor workers. Results This review includes interventions published between 2007-2012 and presents findings about sun protection behaviours and/or objective measures of skin cancer risk. Six papers met inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Large studies with extended follow-up times demonstrated the efficacy of educational and multi-component interventions to increase sun protection, with some higher use of personal protective equipment such as sunscreen. However, there is less evidence for the effectiveness of policy or specific intervention components. Conclusions Further research aimed at improving overall attitudes towards sun protection in outdoor workers is needed to provide an overarching framework.


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