The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #69366

Cheryll J. Cardinez, MSPH¹, Vilma E. Cokkinides, PhD¹, Martin A. Weinstock, PhD², and Mary C. O'Connell, BA³. (1) Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance Research, American Cancer Society-National Home Office, 1599 Clifton Rd NE, 4th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30329, 404-327-6503, cheryll.cardinez@cancer.org, (2) Dermatoepidemiology Unit, Veterans Administration Medical Center-111D, 830 Chalkstone Avenue, Providence, RI 02908, (3) Department of Health Promotions, American Cancer Society-National Home Office, 1599 Clifton Rd NE, 4th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30329

Objective: To present the sun exposure experiences and sun protection behaviors in the parents of adolescents by specific demographics.

Background: Skin cancers are caused by excessive, unprotected ultraviolet radiation exposure, which is heightened during late adolescence. Among adolescents, parental influences shape their sun protection practices. While sun protection programs have targeted adolescents only, limited information is available on parental sun protection behaviors.

Methods: The American Cancer Society conducted a telephone-based prevalence study of sun exposure behaviors among a nationally representative sample of youth aged 11 to 18 living in households with a parent or caregiver in 1998. Weighted prevalence and 95% confidence intervals were estimated.

Results: Approximately one-third [32%; 95% confidence interval (CI): (27.4, 35.8)] of parents practiced three or more sun protection behaviors with the most popular including wearing sunglasses, using sunscreen, and planning activities to avoid the sun. Approximately one-half [49%; 95% CI: (44.5, 54.2)] of parents did not have a summer sunburn, but for those parents who had at least one summer sunburn, almost one-third (30%; 95% CI: (25.4, 34.6)] were practicing in a water recreational activity during their most serious sunburn. Differences in sun protection and sunburn experiences were observed by age, gender, race and ethnicity, and sun sensitivity.

Conclusions: In parents with youth, levels of sun protection were low and sunburn rates were high. This information can assist health care professionals involved in implementing combined parent and youth skin cancer prevention programs at schools or in the community.

Learning Objectives:

After the presentation, the participants should be able to:
• Describe sun protection behavior and sunburn patterns of parents of adolescents,
• Discuss the value of independently collected data on adolescents and their parents, and
• Recognize the importance of including a parental component in skin cancer prevention programs.

Keywords: Cancer Prevention, Survey

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.