Assessing children's ultraviolet radiation exposure: the use of parental recall via telephone interviews.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the validity of a parental report measure of children's solar protection behaviors.


METHODS
Fifty-eight children had skin color assessed twice with a colorimeter. Between measurement sessions, parents were interviewed by telephone to assess children's indoor-outdoor status and solar protection across 40 hourly intervals.


RESULTS
Parental report of child's indoor-outdoor status was significantly correlated with the colorimeter values, whereas the use of sunscreen and protective clothing was not.


CONCLUSIONS
This measure was feasible for assessing ultraviolet exposure in young children. The component that assessed the number of intervals spent outdoors evidenced predictive validity.
Mayer
J A
JA
San Diego State University, CA, USA.
Sallis
J F
JF
Eckhardt
L
L
Creech
L
L
Johnston
M R
MR
Elder
J P
JP
Lui
K J
KJ
D002648:Child; D005127:Eye Color; D005260:Female; D006200:Hair Color; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D010290:Parents; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011481:Protective Clothing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013689:Telephone; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects
D013473:Sunscreening Agents