title: Improving understanding about tanning behaviors in college students: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Melanoma is the second most common cancer diagnosed among 15- to 29-year-olds. This pilot study assessed behaviors, barriers, and beliefs relevant to sun exposure and protective behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample comprised 153 undergraduate students at a large state university in western New York.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed an online survey about sun safety habits, barriers to using sunblock, and beliefs about tanning and sun exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Response rate was 90.8% (n = 139). Most students (87.8%) reportedly spent ≥ 3 hours per day outside in the summer, but only 17.3% reported always using sunblock during this time. Sixty percent reported recent indoor tanning and 41% reported more than 10 lifetime sunburns. The greatest barrier to using sunblock was forgetting (84.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Demographics coupled with inconsistent and low levels of sunblock use, high annual prevalence of indoor tanning, and multiple lifetime sunburns indicate that this sample is at high risk for skin cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ 07470, USA. chb24@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Corey Hannah
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Basch
authors.forename: Grace Clarke
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Hillyer
authors.forename: Charles E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Basch
authors.forename: Alfred I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Neugut
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012309:Risk-Taking; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055108:Sunbathing; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents