Sunburn reduction through parental role modeling and sunscreen vigilance.
OBJECTIVE
To identify characteristics associated with child sunburn experience and sun protection practices, including parent and child demographics, phenotype, and sun-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.


METHODS
A nationally representative telephone survey conducted in 1999 with 651 parents of children 5 to 12 years of age to collect data relating to the sun-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of the parent and child.


RESULTS
Nearly half of parents (49%) and children (44%) were sunburnt during the previous summer. Parents who reported that they had been sunburnt were more likely to have children who had been sunburnt (OR = 2.9, 95% CI = 2.0, 4.2). Conversely, parents with a high level of sun protection behavior were less likely to report being sunburnt (OR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.4, 0.9), and their children were more likely to have a high level of sun protection behavior (OR = 3.0, 95% CI = 2.0, 4.6) and sunscreen vigilance (OR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.7, 4.5). High sunscreen vigilance was associated with a 60% reduction in child sunburning.


CONCLUSIONS
The sunburn experience and sun protection practices of children (5-12 years of age) are closely linked to a number of modifiable attitudes and behaviors of their parents. Therefore the inclusion of parents and care givers in interventions targeting children may increase program efficacy.
O'Riordan
David L
DL
Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Geller
Alan C
AC
Brooks
Daniel R
DR
Zhang
Zi
Z
Miller
Donald R
DR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010290:Parents; D011481:Protective Clothing; D012381:Role Playing; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013471:Sunburn / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone; D014481:United States
D013473:Sunscreening Agents