Peer-reviewed article
Attitudes, Behaviors, and Risks of Sun Protection to Prevent Skin Cancer Amongst Children, Adolescents, and Adults
Jonathan R Raymond-Lezman, Suzanne I Riskin ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This literature review examines attitudes and behaviors related to sun protection among children, adolescents, and adults to prevent skin cancer. The authors identify that UV light exposure is the most modifiable risk factor for skin cancer, with harmful patterns often established in childhood. The review highlights that sun protection education can occur in schools, recreational settings, and homes, but standardized programs are needed. Parents and children rely heavily on media for sun safety information, and individualized counseling from healthcare providers or online programs may help improve sun-safe practices.
Key points
- Lifetime cumulative UV exposure often results from poor sun protection practices during childhood and adolescence
- Well-developed, standardized sun protection educational programs are needed for children and adolescents
- Media is the primary information source for sun safety for many parents and children
- Young women using indoor tanning beds often increase usage after exposure to instructional programs
- Few strategies have been effective in decreasing UV exposure among at-risk populations
Limitations
This is a literature review that synthesizes existing research rather than conducting original research, so it cannot provide definitive causal evidence about which interventions work best. The document does not detail the specific studies reviewed, their sample sizes, or the strength of evidence supporting each recommendation.
Abstract
Skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis worldwide. Many factors are involved in the development of skin cancers, but ultraviolet (UV) light exposure is the most modifiable. Our lifetime cumulative UV exposure may be a result of poor sun protection practices in childhood and adolescence. Modifying the attitudes and behaviors of children can be done in the classroom, at recreational activities, and at home. A review of the literature was conducted using Embase and PubMed to examine the relationship between attitudes and behaviors as they relate to sun protection strategies. Well-developed, standardized sun protection educational programs are needed to instruct children and adolescents. Individualized counseling from physicians or online programs is needed to help parents increase sun-safe standards for their children. Many young women utilize indoor tanning beds frequently, but many instructional programs increased their tanning bed usage. Time should be allotted at schools, sports practices, camps, and other outdoor activities for sunscreen reapplication. Many parents and children report the media is their primary source of information about sun safety. Media outlets may positively change attitudes and behaviors when reporting about sun safety. Parents and children need individualized programs or counseling to reduce ultraviolet (UV) exposure and increase sun protection. At-risk populations need tailored instruction, but few strategies have worked to decrease UV exposure.