title: Skin cancer risk factors among primary school children: investigations in Western Hungary.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the factors associated with sunburns and with sun protection practice in Hungarian primary school children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated children's (the median age: 8, range 5 to 12 years) and parents' assessment of sun sensitivity and sun protection characteristics in cities Gyor and Zalaegerszeg (Hungary) in 2004. This cross-sectional study was part of a programme intended to increase children's and parents' awareness of harmful effects of excessive sunbathing. Analyses were based on 1804 multiple choice questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At multivariate analysis a significant association between sunburns and fairness of complexion, freckles, use of sunscreens and T-shirts, and higher school-class level was observed. Sunburn was inversely associated with hat-wearing. Parents were more likely to apply sunscreen to children with light eyes and to the younger ones, to protect fair skinned children with T-shirts; to protect males and children with fair skin and light eyes with hats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since environmental factors play an important role in the development of skin cancer, morbidity could be reduced by primary prevention. Sun protection habits should therefore be taught early in life, and parents' behaviour adapted. Phenotype is not only related to sunburns but it also appears to influence parents' sun safety behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Western-Transdanubian Regional Institute of National Public Health and Medical Officers' Service, Gyor, Hungary. feher.katalin@nydr.antsz.hu
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fehér
authors.forename: Maria Cecilia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cercato
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Prantner
authors.forename: Zsuzsanna
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dombi
authors.forename: Bernadett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Burkali
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paller
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ramazzotti
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sperduti
authors.forename: Edit
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nádasi
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Parragi
authors.forename: Ildikó
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Menyhárt
authors.forename: Pier Giorgio
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Natali
authors.forename: István
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ember
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055108:Sunbathing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013471:Sunburn / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents