title: Ultraviolet radiation protection and skin cancer awareness in recreational athletes: a survey among participants in a running event.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) protection and skin cancer awareness are essential in the avoidance of cutaneous malignancies. Skin cancer prevention programmes involve public educational campaigns, for example, for outdoor workers or school children. Since nonprofessional sun exposure (e.g. during outdoor sport) is increasing with today's lifestyle, we assessed UVR protection and skin cancer awareness among recreational athletes. This survey-based, paper/pencil study was designed to assess UVR protection and skin cancer awareness among recreational athletes attending the largest running event in Switzerland.
  
  
  METHODS
  All adults (age 18 and older) attending this run were invited to complete our survey at our study booth. Our form consisted of questions about participants' personal characteristics such as age, gender, educational attainment, skin type, history of sunburns, and personal/family history of skin cancer, as well as participants' subjective attitudes and behaviours relating to UVR protection and skin cancer avoidance. We calculated separate scores for individual UVR protection and skin cancer awareness. We tested these two scores in relation to educational level as a primary endpoint. In addition, the impacts of further distinct characteristics were assessed in multivariable analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 970 runners (457 males, 513 females, mean age 41.0 years) completed our survey. Our results indicate that UVR protection is dependent on age, gender, skin type and personal history of skin cancer. Educational attainment (at univariate level), age, gender and skin type (in multivariable analysis) significantly affected the skin cancer awareness score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that protection measures among recreational sportsmen can be improved. Achievements are notable in older, fair skinned, female runners. Our findings indicate that further work is needed in the education of the general public, and athletes in particular.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Christoph
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Switzerland; Centro Studi GISED, Presidio Ospedaliero Matteo Rota, Bergamo, Italy.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cazzaniga
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Robert Emil
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Hunger
authors.affiliation: Centro Studi GISED, Presidio Ospedaliero Matteo Rota, Bergamo, Italy; Department of Dermatology, Azienda Ospedaliera Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Naldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borradori
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Patrick Antony
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Oberholzer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D056352:Athletes; D001688:Biological Products; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011481:Protective Clothing; D011998:Recreation; D012420:Running; D012737:Sex Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013557:Switzerland; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D013473:Sunscreening Agents; C072197:beractant