Purpose: Childhood sun exposure is a major risk factor for the development of adult melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. Well-child visits are important opportunities to begin instilling sun protection practices that will become habits later in life. However, little is known about health care providers' counseling behaviors related to sun protection. This study examined the sun protection attitudes and counseling practices of pediatric and family practice providers in Colorado. Methods: 689 Colorado pediatricians and family practitioners completed a mailed survey in 1998 (response rate: 61%). Results: Over 97% of providers felt it was their role to discuss skin cancer risks and to educate parents about sun protection. However, only 30% reported counseling parents about sun protection and only 21% reported discussing children's risk level for skin cancer with parents. Among those who discussed sun protection with parents, the most common topics were using sunscreen (67%), wearing hats or protective clothing (70%), staying in the shade (52%), and avoiding the mid-day sun (39%). One-third of the variability in counseling was explained by six variables: viewing sun exposure as important, having sufficient time to counsel, physician specialty, plans to change counseling, personal sun protection practices, and knowledge of risk factors. Conclusion: Interventions to encourage provider counseling must increase provider awareness of risk factors for skin cancer and the importance of sun protection, and address time constraints in the well-child visit. Our group is currently conducting a 3-year intervention study aimed at changing provider and parent behavior related to skin cancer prevention.
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe the relationship between sun exposure and skin cancer incidence and the most effective strategies for reducing sun exposure. 2. Describe the current sun protection attitudes and counseling behaviors of Colorado pediatric practitioners and the factors influencing these attitudes and behaviors. 3. Identify the factors that interventions should address in order to encourage provider counseling of sun protection for children
Keywords: Cancer Prevention, Health Promotion
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.