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Parental use of sun protection for their children—does skin color matter?
Author(s) -
Tan Marcus G.,
Nag Shudeshna,
Weinstein Miriam
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
pediatric dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.542
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1525-1470
pISSN - 0736-8046
DOI - 10.1111/pde.13433
Subject(s) - phototype , odds ratio , medicine , confidence interval , sun protection , skin cancer , odds , demography , logistic regression , dermatology , cancer , sociology
Background/Objectives Excessive sun exposure during childhood is a risk factor for skin cancer. This study aimed to compare the frequency of ideal sun protection use between parents with lighter‐ and darker‐skinned children and explore their attitudes and beliefs on sun safety and their choice of sun protection. Methods Parents of children aged 6 months to 6 years completed self‐administered questionnaires about sun protection practices for their children. Parents assessed their child's Fitzpatrick phototype and were divided into lighter‐ (Fitzpatrick phototype I‐ III ) and darker‐skinned (Fitzpatrick phototype IV ‐ VI ) groups. Sun safety guidelines from the Canadian Dermatology Association were used to qualify ideal sun protection. Results A total of 183 parents were included. Overall, 31 parents (17%) used ideal sun protection for their children. As their children grew older, parents were less likely to use ideal sun protection (odds ratio = 0.69, 95% confidence interval = 0.53‐0.90). Parents in the lighter‐skinned group were more likely to use ideal sun protection for their children (odds ratio = 7.4, 95% confidence interval = 2.7‐20.1), believe that sun exposure was harmful (odds ratio = 17.2, 95% confidence interval = 4.0‐74.9), and perceive value in sun protection (odds ratio = 11.4, 95% confidence interval = 3.3‐39.0); the darker‐skinned group believed that darker skin tones provided more sun protection (odds ratio = 12.4, 95% confidence interval = 6.1‐25.4). Conclusion Ideal parental sun protection efforts are overall low, particularly in parents of darker‐skinned children. The identified attitudes toward and beliefs about sun safety may aid in delivery of future sun protection interventions, especially in multiracial populations.