Maksymilian Gajda1, Grażyna Kamińska-Winciorek2, Jerzy Wydmański3, Andrzej Tukiendorf4, Małgorzata Kowalska1. 1. Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine in Katowice Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. 2. The Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Onco-Hematology, Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Centre and Institute of Oncology Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland. 3. Department of Conventional and Intraoperative Radiotherapy, Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Centre and Institute of Oncology Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland. 4. Department of Biostatistics, Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Centre and Institute of Oncology Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Current literature review indicates that there is an increase in risk of skin melanoma due to the use of sunbeds. AIMS: To assess behaviors and opinions about health risk related to tanning. METHODS: From March 2012 to June of the same year, nonrepresentative cross-sectional study was conducted online concerning knowledge and behaviors during tanning. Data from 4919 people (80% of women, median age 25 years [IQR: 20-36]) were analyzed statistically with R software (level of significance at α = .05). We used the authors "active users of sunbeds" (AUS) criterion, denoting person using it ≥2 times per year with an average sessions lasting ≥5 minutes (cutoff values above 1 quartile). The reference was those not meeting above criteria. RESULTS: A total of 926 persons (18.8%) stated that they use sunbeds, while 680 (13.8%) met the criterion of AUS. Within the AUS group, the median number of visits in the tanning beds rooms was 10 (IQR: 5-15) per year, with single session lasting 9 (IQR: 7-10) minutes. The majority (83.5%) of AUS tanned naked indoors, with only 47.4% to have used safety glasses. These individuals were significantly more likely to be women, better educated, and were considered outdoor tanners. AUS were less aware of the risks associated with sunburns, with equal use of sunscreen and reapplication more frequently (as non-AUS). CONCLUSIONS: The level of knowledge in the field of prevention of melanoma was similar in both groups; however, AUS group more frequently took risky behaviors related to sun exposure.
BACKGROUND: Current literature review indicates that there is an increase in risk of skin melanoma due to the use of sunbeds. AIMS: To assess behaviors and opinions about health risk related to tanning. METHODS: From March 2012 to June of the same year, nonrepresentative cross-sectional study was conducted online concerning knowledge and behaviors during tanning. Data from 4919 people (80% of women, median age 25 years [IQR: 20-36]) were analyzed statistically with R software (level of significance at α = .05). We used the authors "active users of sunbeds" (AUS) criterion, denoting person using it ≥2 times per year with an average sessions lasting ≥5 minutes (cutoff values above 1 quartile). The reference was those not meeting above criteria. RESULTS: A total of 926 persons (18.8%) stated that they use sunbeds, while 680 (13.8%) met the criterion of AUS. Within the AUS group, the median number of visits in the tanning beds rooms was 10 (IQR: 5-15) per year, with single session lasting 9 (IQR: 7-10) minutes. The majority (83.5%) of AUS tanned naked indoors, with only 47.4% to have used safety glasses. These individuals were significantly more likely to be women, better educated, and were considered outdoor tanners. AUS were less aware of the risks associated with sunburns, with equal use of sunscreen and reapplication more frequently (as non-AUS). CONCLUSIONS: The level of knowledge in the field of prevention of melanoma was similar in both groups; however, AUS group more frequently took risky behaviors related to sun exposure.
Authors: Louisa G Gordon; Astrid J Rodriguez-Acevedo; Brian Køster; Gery P Guy; Craig Sinclair; Emilie Van Deventer; Adèle C Green Journal: JAMA Dermatol Date: 2020-04-01 Impact factor: 10.282