Factors associated with inconsistent sun protection in first-degree relatives of melanoma survivors. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • First-degree relatives (FDRs) of melanoma survivors are at heightened risk for developing melanoma, but use sun protection inconsistently. To develop appropriate interventions, in this article we identify factors related to sun protection inconsistency in melanoma FDRs using ethnographic decision tree modeling. We conducted in-home interviews with 25 melanoma FDRs balanced across gender and sunbathing attitudes and identified factors related to daily decision making about use of sunscreen, shade seeking, hats, and clothing. Results indicated primary facilitators for sun protection involved water settings and sunny weather. Physical activities such as exercise served to promote as well as inhibit sun protection. If participants anticipated shade cover, they tended to forgo other sun protection. The use of hats and clothing was often dictated by nonsun-protection goals. Understanding factors related to inconsistent sun protection with detail and nuance is an important prerequisite to interventions aimed to improve sun-protection maintenance in this population.

publication date

  • July 1, 2012

Research

keywords

  • Environmental Exposure
  • Health Promotion
  • Melanoma
  • Risk-Taking
  • Sunscreening Agents
  • Ultraviolet Rays

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC4057020

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 84861833382

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1525/ae.1980.7.1.02a00070

PubMed ID

  • 22645220

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 22

issue

  • 7