title: Trends in sunscreen recommendation among US physicians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sunscreen is an important part of sun protection to prevent skin cancer but may not be recommended as often as guidelines dictate.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate trends in sunscreen recommendation among physicians to determine whether they are following suggested patient-education guidelines regarding sun protection, and to assess data regarding physician sunscreen recommendations to determine the association with patient demographics, physician specialty, and physician diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey was queried to identify patient visits to nonfederal outpatient physician offices at US ambulatory care practices (January 1, 1989-December 26, 2010) during which sunscreen was recommended.
  
  
  METHODS
  Frequency of sunscreen recommendation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, there were an estimated 18.30 billion patient visits nationwide. Physicians mentioned sunscreen at approximately 12.83 million visits (0.07%). Mention of sunscreen was reported by physicians at 0.9% of patient visits associated with a diagnosis of skin disease. Dermatologists recorded the mention of sunscreen the most (86.4% of all visits associated with sunscreen). However, dermatologists reported mentioning sunscreen at only 1.6% of all dermatology visits. Sunscreen was mentioned most frequently to white patients, particularly those in their eighth decade of life, and least frequently to children. Actinic keratosis was the most common diagnosis associated with sunscreen recommendation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite encouragement to provide patient education regarding sunscreen use and sun-protective behaviors, the rate at which physicians are mentioning sunscreen at patient visits is quite low, even for patients with a history of skin cancer. The high incidence and morbidity of skin cancer can be greatly reduced with the implementation of sun-protective behaviors, which patients should be counseled about at outpatient visits.
authors.affiliation: Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Kristie L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Akamine
authors.affiliation: Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Cheryl J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Gustafson
authors.affiliation: Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Michelle M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Levender
authors.affiliation: Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina2Departments of Pathology and Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Feldman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents