Scottish adolescents' sun-related behaviours, tanning attitudes and associations with skin cancer awareness: a cross-sectional study

Kyle, Richard G; Macmillan, Iona; Forbat, Liz; Neal, Richard D; O'Carroll, Ronan E; Haw, Sally; Hubbard, Gill

Abstract

Objectives
To describe Scottish adolescents’ sun-related behaviours and tanning attitudes and assess associations with skin cancer awareness.

Design
Cross-sectional study.

Setting
20 state secondary schools in one Scottish local authority (Glasgow City).

Participants
2173 adolescents (females: 50.7%, n=1102) with a mean age of 12.4 (SD=0.55).

Outcome measures
Sun-related behaviour (suntan, sunbathing, sunburn, sunscreen use, sunbed use), tanning attitudes, skin cancer-related symptom and risk factor awareness.

Results
Adolescents reported poor sun-related practice: 51% of adolescents reported sunburn the previous summer of whom 38% indicated sunburn on more than one occasion. Skin cancer awareness was low: 45% recognised ‘change in the appearance of a mole’ as a cancer symptom, and 39% agreed that ‘getting sunburnt more than once as a child’ increased cancer risk. 42% and 26% of adolescents, respectively, reported that friends and family held protanning attitudes. Compared with males, females were statistically significantly more likely to: report sunbathing (p<0.001), use of lotions or oil to aid tanning (p=0.009) and sunburn (p<0.001); know that changes in the appearance of a mole was a skin cancer symptom (p=0.036) and sunburn more than once as a child was a skin cancer risk factor(p=0.005); perceive their friends to hold protanning attitudes (p<0.001) and indicate that a tan made them feel better about themselves (p<0.001), mor eattractive to others (p=0.011) and healthier (p<0.001).

Conclusions
Scottish adolescents had poor sun protection practice and low skin cancer awareness. Girls adopted riskier sun-related behaviour despite greater awareness of skin cancer-related risk. Urgent action is required to promote positive sun-related behaviour and increase skin cancer awareness among Scottish adolescents. However, further research is needed to inform the development of effective sun-safe interventions.

Citation

Kyle, R. G., Macmillan, I., Forbat, L., Neal, R. D., O'Carroll, R. E., Haw, S., & Hubbard, G. (2014). Scottish adolescents' sun-related behaviours, tanning attitudes and associations with skin cancer awareness: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 4, https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005137

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 14, 2014
• Online Publication Date: May 2, 2014
• Publication Date: May 2, 2014
• Deposit Date: Jan 19, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 19, 2015
• Print ISSN: 2044-6055
• Electronic ISSN: 2044-6055
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 4
• Article Number: e005137
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005137
• Keywords: Suntan; tanning; skin cancer; adolescents; Scotland; sun protection
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/7479
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005137