PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Bränström, Richard
AU  - Kasparian, Nadine A.
AU  - Chang, Yu-mei
AU  - Affleck, Paul
AU  - Tibben, Aad
AU  - Aspinwall, Lisa G.
AU  - Azizi, Esther
AU  - Baron-Epel, Orna
AU  - Battistuzzi, Linda
AU  - Bergman, Wilma
AU  - Bruno, William
AU  - Chan, May
AU  - Cuellar, Francisco
AU  - Dębniak, Tadeusz
AU  - Pjanova, Dace
AU  - Ertmański, Sławomir
AU  - Figl, Adina
AU  - Gonzalez, Melinda
AU  - Hayward, Nicholas K.
AU  - Hocevar, Marko
AU  - Kanetsky, Peter A.
AU  - Leachman, Sancy A.
AU  - Heisele , Olita
AU  - Palmer, Jane
AU  - Peric, Barbara
AU  - Puig, Susana
AU  - Schadendorf, Dirk
AU  - Gruis, Nelleke A.
AU  - Newton-Bishop, Julia
AU  - Brandberg, Yvonne
TI  - Predictors of Sun Protection Behaviors and Severe Sunburn in an International Online Study
AID  - 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-10-0196
DP  - 2010 Sep 01
TA  - Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention
PG  - 2199--2210
VI  - 19
IP  - 9
4099  - http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/19/9/2199.short
4100  - http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/19/9/2199.full
SO  - Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev2010 Sep 01; 19
AB  - Background: The incidence of melanoma continues to increase in many countries, and primary prevention of melanoma includes avoidance of sunburn as well as adequate sun protection behavior. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of self-reported sun protection behaviors and sunburn in users of the Internet, and to identify the demographic, clinical, and attitudinal/motivational correlates of sun protection behaviors.Methods: Self-report data were gathered on behalf of the GenoMEL consortium using an online survey available in 10 different languages, and 8,178 individuals successfully completed at least 80% of survey items, with 73% of respondents from Europe, 12% from Australia, 7% from the United States, 2% from Israel, and 6% from other countries.Results: Half of all respondents and 27% of those with a previous melanoma reported at least one severe sunburn during the previous 12 months. The strongest factors associated with sun protection behavior were perceived barriers to protection (β = −0.44/β = −0.37), and respondents who reported a positive attitude toward suntans were less likely to protect (β = −0.16/β = −0.14). Reported use of protective clothing and shade, as well as avoidance of midday sun exposure, were more strongly related to reduced risk of sunburn than sunscreen use.Conclusions: Despite widespread dissemination of public health messages about the importance of sun protection, a substantial proportion of this international sample, including respondents with a previous melanoma, reported inadequate sun protection behaviors resulting in severe sunburn.Impact: Future strategies to decrease sunburn should target the practical, social, and psychological barriers associated with nonuptake of sun protection. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19(9); 2199–210. ©2010 AACR.