title: Use of sun-protective items by Japanese pedestrians: a cross-sectional observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To document the prevalence and characteristics of the use of sun-protective items by Japanese pedestrians during the midday hours of summer weekends.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observations were undertaken at 5 locales in central Tokyo on weekends between 11 am and 2 pm from August 7 through 22, 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2338 Japanese pedestrians, from adolescents to senior citizens, were included in the study. Those wearing uniforms and formal attire and individuals of non-Japanese ethnicity were excluded.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study examined the prevalence of the use of sun-protective items by pedestrians, including hats, parasols, sunglasses, and gloves/protective sleeves, and its association with demographic factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Japanese female pedestrians demonstrated greater use of 1 or more sun-protective items compared with their male counterparts (53.0% vs 30.2%, P < .001), with parasols being the most popular item (33.0%). The wearing of sunglasses by pedestrians was low overall (males, 8.5%; females, 6.5%), despite the high UV indices recorded during the observation period. A significant proportion of adolescents and young adults (males, 77.1%; females, 65.1%) did not use any sun-protective items.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The promotion of sun-safety measures, including the use of sun-protective items among Japanese adolescents and young adults, may be warranted. The low use of sunglasses by Japanese pedestrians suggests a need to raise public awareness of UV-related ocular damage.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan. wng@juntendo.ac.jp
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Ng
authors: Shigaku
authors: S
authors: Ikeda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005135:Eye Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006260:Head Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011481:Protective Clothing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012737:Sex Factors; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014041:Tokyo; D016138:Walking; D055815:Young Adult