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The validated sun exposure questionnaire: association of objective and subjective measures of sun exposure in a Danish population‐based sample
Author(s) -
Køster B.,
Søndergaard J.,
Nielsen J.B.,
Allen M.,
Olsen A.,
Bentzen J.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/bjd.14861
Subject(s) - sunburn , medicine , population , sun exposure , environmental health , sunlight , sun protection , scale (ratio) , erythema , demography , dermatology , geography , physics , cartography , astronomy , sociology
Summary Background Few questionnaires used in monitoring sun‐related behaviour have been tested for validity. Objectives We established the criteria validity of a questionnaire developed for monitoring population sun‐related behaviour. Methods During May–August 2013, 664 Danes wore a personal electronic ultraviolet radiation ( UVR ) dosimeter for 1 week that measured their outdoor time and dose of erythemal UVR exposure. In the following week, they answered a questionnaire on their sun‐related behaviour in the measurement week. Results Outdoor time measured by dosimetry correlated strongly with both outdoor time and the developed exposure scale measured in the questionnaire. Exposure measured in standard erythema dose ( SED ) by dosimetry correlated strongly with the exposure scale. In a linear regression model of UVR ( SED ) received, 41% of the variation was explained by skin type, age, week of participation and exposure scale, with exposure scale as the main contributor. The weekly sunburn fraction correlated strongly with the number of ambient sun hours ( r = 0·73, P < 0·001). Conclusions This criteria‐validated questionnaire provides evidence of the exposure that the questionnaire aimed to measure. The evidence provided showed a strong link between the objectively measured behaviour and the behaviour measured by this survey construct. The questionnaire is the first validated tool to measure the UVR exposure in a national population‐based sample.