title: Sun protection and sunbathing practices among at-risk family members of patients with melanoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the increased level of familial risk, research indicates that family members of patients with melanoma engage in relatively low levels of sun protection and high levels of sun exposure. The goal of this study was to evaluate a broad range of demographic, medical, psychological, knowledge, and social influence correlates of sun protection and sunbathing practices among first-degree relatives (FDRs) of melanoma patients and to determine if correlates of sun protection and sunbathing were unique.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated correlates of sun protection and sunbathing among FDRs of melanoma patients who were at increased disease risk due to low compliance with sun protection and skin surveillance behaviors. Participants (N = 545) completed a phone survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FDRs who reported higher sun protection had a higher education level, lower benefits of sunbathing, greater sunscreen self-efficacy, greater concerns about photo-aging and greater sun protection norms. FDRs who reported higher sunbathing were younger, more likely to be female, endorsed fewer sunscreen barriers, perceived more benefits of sunbathing, had lower image norms for tanness, and endorsed higher sunbathing norms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interventions for family members at risk for melanoma might benefit from improving sun protection self-efficacy, reducing perceived sunbathing benefits, and targeting normative influences to sunbathe.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Prevention and Control Program, The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA. mannesl@umdnj.edu
authors.forename: Sharon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Manne
authors.forename: Elliot J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Coups
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ming
authors.forename: Carolyn J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Heckman
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lessin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055108:Sunbathing; D013471:Sunburn / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents