Objectively-Assessed Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure and Sunburn Occurrence

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure is the primary modifiable risk factor for melanoma. Wearable UVR sensors provide a means of quantifying UVR exposure objectively and with a lower burden than self-report measures used in most research. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between detected UVR exposure and reported sunburn occurrence. In this study, a UVR monitoring device was worn by 97 parent-child dyads during waking hours for 14 days to measure instantaneous and accumulated UVR exposure. The results showed that the participants' total UVR exposure was associated with reported sunburn after adjusting for Fitzpatrick skin type and geographic location. It was observed that one standard erythemal dose (SED) increase in the participants' daily total UVR exposure was associated with reported sunburn (an odds ratio (OR) of 1.26 with a 95% CI of 1.13 and 1.41, and p < 0.001 for parents and an OR of 1.28 with a 95% CI of 1.12 and 1.47, and p < 0.001 for children). A one-SED increase in the participants' UVR exposure from 10 am to 4 pm was also associated with reported sunburn (an OR of 1.31 with a 95% CI of 1.15 and 1.49, and p < 0.001 for parents and an OR of 1.33 with a 95% CI of 1.12 and 1.59, and p = 0.001 for children). We found that elevated UVR exposure recordings measured by the UVR sensor were associated with reported sunburn occurrence. Future directions for wearable UVR sensors may include their use as an intervention tool to support in-the-moment sunburn prevention.

Tailored visuals, implementation interventions, and sun safe behavior: A longitudinal message experiment

OBJECTIVE

One way to communicate skin cancer risk is through ultraviolet (UV) photographs, which can depict the target person (tailored visual) or someone else (stock visual). There is a need for more longitudinal research examining the relative impact of tailored UV photographs compared with other message interventions that could increase sun safe behaviors.

METHOD

Students 14-18 years of age (N = 654) at eleven high schools in Utah were recruited to participate in a longitudinal experiment (assessments: pretest, posttest, 1 month follow-up) comparing the relative persuasive impact of receiving either (a) stock and tailored UV photographs or (b) stock UV photographs and an implementation intervention on outdoor tanning behavior. Participants completed measures of fear, appearance norms and benefits, threat susceptibility/severity, self-efficacy, response efficacy, freedom threat, reactance, and outdoor tanning behavior.

RESULTS

Compared with the implementation intervention, participants in the tailored UV condition reported increased fear and freedom threat and decreased appearance norms and benefits of tanning immediately following exposure to the intervention and decreased outdoor tanning 1 month after the intervention. Indirect effects also emerged with tailored UV exposure decreasing outdoor tanning via appearance benefits and increasing outdoor tanning when immediate fear triggered psychological reactance.

CONCLUSIONS

The results contribute to research on lay reactions to tailored visuals, implementation interventions, and theorizing the indirect effects of affect and cognition across time. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Outdoor activities and sunburn among urban and rural families in a Western region of the US: Implications for skin cancer prevention

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Skin cancer risk differs between individuals in rural versus urban communities.

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Differing skin cancer risk could be due to unique patterns of outdoor activities.

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Rural versus urban adults and children engage in different outdoor activities.

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Preventive interventions could target activities with high sunburn risk.

Prevention of skin cancer involves decreasing exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and avoiding sunburn, especially early in life. Individuals living in urban versus rural areas, as defined by the Rural Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) code classification, have different risks for skin cancer, likely due to differing patterns of outdoor activities and preventive behaviors employed when outdoors. However, few studies have examined differences in outdoor activities between rural and urban individuals and examined this among both adults and children. This study compared the outdoor activities, sun protection strategies, tanning behaviors, and sunburn occurrence of adults and children (n = 97 dyads) in rural versus urban settings in a Western region of the United States. The relationships between outdoor activities and sunburn occurrence were examined in both groups. Analyses employed Barnard’s Exact Test and logistic generalized estimating equations models. Individuals in rural and urban areas reported differences in sun protection strategies used, tanning behaviors, and outdoor activities. Individuals in urban areas more commonly reported use of certain forms of sun protection, such as sunscreen and shade, whereas long pants and skirt wearing were more common for children in rural areas. Individuals in rural areas were more likely than those in urban areas to engage in farm work, yard work, and youth sports. Gender differences in these outcomes were also identified. Skin cancer preventive interventions could be tailored for rural and urban families to target sun protection strategies to outdoor activities and to situations in which sunburns are likely to occur.

Reactivity to UV Radiation Exposure Monitoring Using Personal Exposure Devices for Skin Cancer Prevention: Longitudinal Observational Study

BACKGROUND

Emerging UV radiation (UVR) monitoring devices may present an opportunity to integrate such technology into skin cancer prevention interventions. However, little is known about the effects of using a wearable UVR monitor on adults' and children's sun protection-related behaviors and attitudes (eg, cancer worry and perceived risk). Understanding the potential role of reactivity and seasonal effects will help inform the use of objective monitors in the context of skin cancer prevention research, including intervention studies.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to examine the potential reactivity associated with a wearable personal UVR monitor, specifically the effects associated with reported sun-protective behaviors and skin cancer-related attitudes, which are often the targets of skin cancer preventive interventions.

METHODS

Child-parent dyads (n=97 dyads) were asked to wear a UVR monitoring device during waking hours for 2 weeks. Participants were asked to sync the device daily with a smartphone app that stored the UVR exposure data. Participants were blinded to their UVR exposure data during the 2-week period; thus, the smartphone app provided no feedback to the participants on their UVR exposure. Participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing sun-protective behaviors, sunburn, tanning, skin self-examination, skin cancer-related knowledge, perceived risk, cancer worry, response efficacy, and intentions to change behaviors over the 2-week period. Linear regressions were conducted to investigate changes in the outcomes over time and to account for the role of the season of study participation.

RESULTS

Regression results revealed that there was a significant decrease over time for several sun protection outcomes in children, including time spent outdoors on weekends (P=.02) and weekdays (P=.008), sunscreen use (P=.03), reapplication (P<.001), and unintentional tanning (P<.001). There were no significant changes over time in children's and parents' UVR exposure, sunburn occurrence, or sun protection attitudes. Season of participation was associated with several outcomes, including lower sunscreen use (P<.001), reapplication (P<.001), sunburns (P=.01), intentions to change sun-protective behaviors (P=.02), and intentional (P=.008) and unintentional tanning (P=.01) for participants who participated in the fall versus the summer.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings from this study suggest that daily use of a UVR monitoring device over a 2-week period may result in changes in certain sun-protective behaviors. These results highlight the importance of identifying and addressing potential reactivity to UVR monitoring devices, especially in the context of skin cancer preventive intervention research. Ultimately, objectively assessed UVR exposure could be integrated into the outcome assessment for future testing of skin cancer prevention interventions.

Higher Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure Among Rural-Dwelling Versus Urban-Dwelling Adults and Children: Implications for Skin Cancer Prevention

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure is a primary risk factor for the development of melanoma. However, adults and adolescents often do not engage in preventive behaviors to reduce UVR exposure. Rural residents may be at higher risk for melanoma due to lower use of sun protection strategies, which increases their overall UVR exposure compared to those who live in urban areas. The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in UVR exposure between rural and urban residents in a geographic area with high incidence of melanoma. Children (aged 8-17 years) and adults (≥ 18 years) from rural and urban areas of Utah were asked to wear a UVR monitoring device for 14 days. The sample included 97 children and 97 adults. Data was collected from June to October 2018. Non-parametric Mann-Whitney tests and quantile regression were used to compare UVR exposure levels between urban and rural participants, separately for adults and children. For adults, rural residence significantly increased total UVR dose ( β: 24.6; 95% CI 3.75, 42.74) and the UVR dose during peak UVR hours among participants with the highest UVR doses (β: 16.3; 95% CI 17.4, 24.63). Rural children exhibited significantly higher UVR doses for peak UVR hours for the entire study period (β: 4.14; 95% CI 0.83, 7.46) and on weekdays (β: 0.39; 95% CI 0.05, 0.73). The findings from this study indicate that rural residents may receive higher levels of UVR exposure than urban residents, and that prevention efforts could be tailored to address these geographical differences.

The Feasibility and Acceptability of Using a Wearable UV Radiation Exposure Monitoring Device in Adults and Children: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study

BACKGROUND

In the United States, melanoma is the 5th most common cancer. Reducing ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure is essential for the prevention of melanoma. Objectively assessing individual-level UVR exposure with the use of wearable technology offers a promising tool for reducing UVR exposure. However, the feasibility and acceptability of using UVR monitoring wearable devices have not been assessed.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a commercially available UVR monitoring wearable device among adults and children.

METHODS

The study recruited families (one parent and one child) to test a new, commercially-available UVR monitoring device (Shade). Participants wore the Shade device for two weeks and completed questionnaires assessing the feasibility and acceptability of wearing the device. Qualitative analyses were conducted to summarize participants' open-ended responses regarding device feasibility.

RESULTS

A total of 194 individuals (97 adults and 97 children) participated. Participating children were on average 12.7 years old. Overall, adults and children reported moderate satisfaction with wearing the Shade device. Feasibility of use of the Shade device was adequate with 73% of adults and 61% of children reporting that they wore the device "all of the time they were outside." Through open-ended responses, participants reported appreciating the device's ease of use, compact size, and that it increased their awareness about their UVR exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

A new, wearable UVR monitoring device can be feasibly used by adults and children and use of the device was acceptable to participants. The device could be integrated into melanoma preventive interventions to increase individual's and families' awareness of their UVR exposure and to facilitate the use of recommended melanoma preventive strategies.

A pilot study of a telehealth family-focused melanoma preventive intervention for children with a family history of melanoma

OBJECTIVE

Melanoma preventive interventions for children with familial risk are critically needed because ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure and sunburn occurrence early in life are the primary modifiable risk factors for melanoma. The current study examined the feasibility and acceptability of a new, family-focused telehealth intervention for children with familial risk for melanoma and their parents. The study also explored changes in child sun protection and risk behaviors, sunburn occurrence, and objectively measured UVR exposure.

METHODS

This was a prospective study with a single-group design (n = 21 parent-child dyads, children ages 8-17). Dyads were asked to participate in three in-person assessments and three live video teleconference intervention sessions.

RESULTS

The intervention was feasibly delivered, and the intervention content was acceptable to parents and children. The intervention was associated with improvements in child use of certain sun protection strategies over time and declines in child UVR exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

A telehealth-delivered,family-focused melanoma preventive intervention was feasibly delivered and was acceptable to parent-child dyads. Future melanoma preventive interventions for this at-risk population could incorporate eHealth technologies to facilitate improvements in use of sun protection and monitoring of UVR exposure. This trial was registered with Clinicaltrials.gov, number NCT02846714.

Differences in reported sun protection practices, skin cancer knowledge, and perceived risk for skin cancer between rural and urban high school students

PURPOSE

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate differences in reported use of sun protection, tanning behaviors, skin cancer-related knowledge, and perceived risk between rural and urban high school students in a geographic area with high rates of melanoma.

METHODS

A total of 1,570 high school students (56.8% female) from urban (6 schools) and rural (7 schools) geographic areas in Utah completed questionnaires assessing sun protection and tanning behaviors, skin cancer-related knowledge, and perceived risk for skin cancer. Analyses examined potential differences in these outcomes between rural and urban students and by gender.

RESULTS

Compared to students in urban areas, those in rural areas had lower odds of wearing sunscreen (OR 0.71; 95% CI 0.53, 0.95; p = 0.022), re-applying sunscreen (OR 0.61; 95% CI 0.74, 1.02; p = 0.002), wearing long-sleeved shirts (OR 0.63 95% CI 0.46, 0.86; p = 0.004), and seeking shade (OR 0.67; 95% CI 0.50, 0.88; p = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

Rural students reported less adequate use of sun protection than urban students. Rural male students reported lower knowledge scores compared to urban males. Future skin cancer prevention efforts targeting rural high schoolers are warranted.

Social Media Use Among Parents and Caregivers of Children With Cancer

Social media as an effective source of information and support among parents and other caregivers of children with cancer has not been explored. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to describe caregivers' reasons for using social media, social media sites used, and predictors of social media usage. This study sample included 215 caregivers (96% parents) of children with cancer receiving cancer-related care at a tertiary children's hospital in the Intermountain West. Most of caregivers (74%) reported using social media in relation to their child's cancer and reported using social media to provide and receive support and information about their child's diagnosis or treatment. Our findings suggest that social media could be a delivery platform for future interventions seeking to meet the informational and emotional needs of caregivers of children with cancer. An awareness of how parents and caregivers of children receiving cancer-related treatment use social media can help nurses understand their ongoing informational and emotional needs. Nurses can also support parents and caregivers in selecting reputable sources of support that are accessible via social media.