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Young park users' attitudes and behaviour to sun protection
1HCML Health & Case Management Limited, Melrose House, 42 Dingwall Road, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 2NE, United Kingdom. Trudy.Hedges@hcml.co.uk
Global Health Promotion
|April 23, 2011
Summary
Young adults know about sun safety but often don't practice it, especially in city parks. A gender-specific approach targeting families and schools is recommended for better sun protection behavior.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Dermatology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Global rise in skin cancer necessitates effective sun safety initiatives.
- Limited evidence exists on the long-term impact of sun safety programs on young adults' attitudes and behaviors.
- Understanding sun protection practices in urban recreational settings like city parks is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding sun protection among young adult Caucasians (18-28 years old) using city parks.
- To assess the effectiveness of current sun safety knowledge sources and identify gaps.
- To evaluate the discrepancy between reported and actual sun protection behaviors in a park setting.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an interview questionnaire with 18- to 28-year-old Caucasian park users.
- Incorporated behavior validation techniques to enhance accuracy and minimize recall bias.
- Ensured data consistency through regular cross-comparison and pre-coded responses.
Main Results:
- High knowledge of sun exposure risks and protection methods was reported.
- Parents/family and media (TV, magazines) were primary knowledge sources; school initiatives were cited infrequently.
- A significant gap exists between participants' positive attitudes towards tanned skin and their actual sun protection behaviors in parks.
- Males reported less sunscreen use and lower SPF compared to females; both genders intentionally sought tans.
- Most participants experienced sunburn, some severe.
Conclusions:
- Despite high awareness, young adults exhibit poor sun protection behaviors in city parks, with a strong preference for tanned skin.
- Current sun safety education, particularly from schools, appears insufficient.
- A gender-specific health promotion strategy, emphasizing familial education and supportive school/public environments, is recommended to improve sun protection behaviors.
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