Factors associated with skin cancer prevention practices in a multiethnic population

A better understanding of factors influencing sun protection practices can improve the design and evaluation of skin cancer prevention programs. These data are from a cross-sectional survey of 756 parents with children in Grades 1 through 3, and 176 recreation program staff members in a multiethnic population in Hawaii. Questionnaires asked about skin cancer prevention practices (sunscreen use, covering up, shade seeking), knowledge, benefits and barriers, policies, and staff norms for prevention. The most important correlates of children's prevention practices were their parents' sun protection habits. Multiple regression models--which included knowledge, beliefs, program policies, and covariates related to sun protection--explained a total of between 38% and 41% of the variance in children's sun safety habits, 22% to 25% of parents' habits, and 24% of recreation staff members' sun safety habits. The models were less successful at predicting the use of hats, shirts, and shade seeking and a composite sun protection habits index. Parents and caregivers' knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors, as well as recreation program policies, are strong predictors of sun protection practices among children in Grades 1 to 3 in a multiethnic sample.