BACKGROUND: Reducing childhood exposure to ultraviolet radiation is important to minimize lifetime skin cancer risk. OBJECTIVES: We sought to describe the prevalence of children's sun-related behaviors and associated parental and other factors. METHODS: In weekly cross-sectional telephone interviews during summer, 1140 parents/guardians of children aged 0 to 11 years were recruited. Parents provided proxy reports for one of their children. Key questions related to weekend sun protection and sunburn, parent's sun-related attitudes, and demographic characteristics. Potential predictors of children's sun protection and sunburn were analyzed adjusting for covariates including weather conditions on the previous weekend. RESULTS: On summer weekends, 73% of children spent longer than 15 minutes outdoors in peak ultraviolet radiation periods. Of these, 64% were protected by a hat and 58% by sun-protection factor 15 or higher sunscreen, 32% stayed under shade, and 18% wore three-quarter or long-sleeved tops. Overall, 8% of children had sunburn. Parental attitudes were typically supportive of children's sun protection. Parental use of hats (odds ratio [OR] 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6-6.2), shade (OR 9.6; 95% CI 4.4-20.8), sunscreen (OR 12.6; 95% CI 5.2-30.4), longer leg cover (OR 10.3; 95% CI 4.4-24.0), and two or more protective behaviors (OR 5.7; 95% CI 2.8-11.9) increased the odds of their children practicing these behaviors, as did some parental attitudes. LIMITATIONS: We relied on cross-sectional parent reports. CONCLUSION: Although children's sun protection was favorable, there was room for improvement. Health promotion to improve sun-protection practices in adults may benefit children's sun-safe behaviors.
BACKGROUND: Reducing childhood exposure to ultraviolet radiation is important to minimize lifetime skin cancer risk. OBJECTIVES: We sought to describe the prevalence of children's sun-related behaviors and associated parental and other factors. METHODS: In weekly cross-sectional telephone interviews during summer, 1140 parents/guardians of children aged 0 to 11 years were recruited. Parents provided proxy reports for one of their children. Key questions related to weekend sun protection and sunburn, parent's sun-related attitudes, and demographic characteristics. Potential predictors of children's sun protection and sunburn were analyzed adjusting for covariates including weather conditions on the previous weekend. RESULTS: On summer weekends, 73% of children spent longer than 15 minutes outdoors in peak ultraviolet radiation periods. Of these, 64% were protected by a hat and 58% by sun-protection factor 15 or higher sunscreen, 32% stayed under shade, and 18% wore three-quarter or long-sleeved tops. Overall, 8% of children had sunburn. Parental attitudes were typically supportive of children's sun protection. Parental use of hats (odds ratio [OR] 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6-6.2), shade (OR 9.6; 95% CI 4.4-20.8), sunscreen (OR 12.6; 95% CI 5.2-30.4), longer leg cover (OR 10.3; 95% CI 4.4-24.0), and two or more protective behaviors (OR 5.7; 95% CI 2.8-11.9) increased the odds of their children practicing these behaviors, as did some parental attitudes. LIMITATIONS: We relied on cross-sectional parent reports. CONCLUSION: Although children's sun protection was favorable, there was room for improvement. Health promotion to improve sun-protection practices in adults may benefit children's sun-safe behaviors.
Authors: Katharina Diehl; Karlijn Thoonen; Eckhard W Breitbart; Annette B Pfahlberg; Tatiana Görig Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-06-04 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Zamantimande Kunene; Patricia N Albers; Robyn M Lucas; Cathy Banwell; Angela Mathee; Caradee Y Wright Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2017-08-25 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Ignazio Stanganelli; Luigi Naldi; Simone Cazzaniga; Sara Gandini; Serena Magi; Pietro Quaglino; Simone Ribero; Marco Simonacci; Maria Antonietta Pizzichetta; Francesco Spagnolo; Giuseppe Palmieri; Paola Queirolo Journal: Medicine (Baltimore) Date: 2020-01 Impact factor: 1.817