A comparison of patterns of sun protection during beach holidays and everyday outdoor activities in a population sample of young German children.
BACKGROUND
Reducing exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the main effective measure for preventing skin cancer. Educational campaigns targeting sun protection have been focused either on behaviour on the beach during the summer holiday alone, or during everyday outdoor activities of the children. Little is known about the comparison between these different settings.


OBJECTIVE
To analyse whether parents apply similar protective measures to reduce UV exposure for their young children in different outdoor environments.


METHODS
Families (n = 2619) with children aged 3-6 years (response: 64·7%) were enrolled in a population-based survey in the German city of Erlangen and its surrounding rural county. Using a self-administered standardized questionnaire parents gave information about demographic and photosensitivity data of their children, their knowledge about risk factors for skin cancer and their typical instructions given to their children when these played outside on a summer day in different outdoor environments.


RESULTS
Significant discrepancies regarding the four UV protective measures (clothes, shade, sunhat, sunscreen) for children between an everyday outdoor setting and a holiday setting on the beach were observed. A high level of parental risk factor knowledge was significantly associated with a better protection for children in all four measures only on the beach. Photosensitivity and demographic characteristics had some impact on protective behaviour, too. Measures of sun protection were reduced with children's increasing age.


CONCLUSIONS
Skin cancer prevention campaigns should target the encouragement of sun protection for children also in outdoor activities of daily living, not only during a summer holiday on the beach.
Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
J
J
Li
W
W
Uter
A
A
Pfahlberg
O
O
Gefeller
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001493:Bathing Beaches; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006693:Holidays; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D011481:Protective Clothing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012621:Seasons; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013471:Sunburn / Q000517:prevention & control; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects
D013473:Sunscreening Agents