title: Melanoma risk factors, perceived threat and intentional tanning: an international online survey.
abstract: Cutaneous melanoma continues to increase in incidence in many countries, and intentional tanning is a risk factor for melanoma. The aim of this study was to understand how melanoma risk factors, perceived threat and preferences for a suntan relate to intentional tanning. Self-report data were collected on behalf of GenoMEL (www.genomel.org) from the general population using an online survey. A total of 8178 individuals completed the survey, with 72.8% of respondents being from Europe, 12.1% from Australia, 7.1% from the US, 2.5% from Israel and 5.5% from other countries. Seven percent of respondents had previously been diagnosed with melanoma and 8% had at least one first-degree relative with a previous melanoma. Overall, 70% reported some degree of intentional tanning during the past year, and 38% of respondents previously diagnosed with melanoma had intentionally tanned. The total number of risk factors was positively correlated with perceived risk of melanoma [correlation coefficient (rho) = 0.27], and negatively correlated with intentional tanning (rho = -0.16). Preference for a dark suntan was the strongest predictor of intentional tanning [regression coefficient (beta) = 0.35, P<0.001], even in those with a previous melanoma (beta = 0.33, P<0.01). A substantial proportion of participants reported having phenotypic and behavioural risk factors for melanoma. The preference regarding suntans seemed more important in the participants' decision to intentionally tan than their perceived risk of developing melanoma, and this finding was consistent among respondents from different countries. The drive to sunbathe to tan is a key factor to be moderated if melanoma incidence is to be reduced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. richard.branstrom@ki.se
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bränström
authors.forename: Yu-Mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kasparian
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Affleck
authors.forename: Aad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tibben
authors.forename: Lisa G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Aspinwall
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Azizi
authors.forename: Orna
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Baron-Epel
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Battistuzzi
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: May
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cuellar
authors.forename: Tadeusz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Debniak
authors.forename: Dace
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pjanova
authors.forename: Sławomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ertmański
authors.forename: Adina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Figl
authors.forename: Melinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Nicholas K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Hayward
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hocevar
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Kanetsky
authors.forename: Samantha L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Leaf
authors.forename: Frans A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: van Nieuwpoort
authors.forename: Olita
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Heisele
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peric
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Puig
authors.forename: Althea D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Ruffin
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schadendorf
authors.forename: Nelleke A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Gruis
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Brandberg
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Newton-Bishop
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D055108:Sunbathing