Parents' knowledge about sun exposure and a comparison of their personal practices versus those used to protect their children against the sun

Abstract

Objectives: Overexposure to the sun during childhood is a well-known risk factor for skin cancer. Childhood is a crucial period for establishing and continuing to develop healthy sun protection behaviors. The purpose of our study was to investigate parents' knowledge and compare their personal behaviors in regard to sun protection for themselves and for their children. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional population-based study. A questionnaire was given to 738 parents, 700 of whom completed the questionnaire and were included in the study. Results: Among the 700 parents, 88% (n = 616) were female and 12% (n = 84) were male. The mean age of the parents and children was 35.1 ± 5.6 years and 5.2 ± 3.0 years, respectively. Eighty-three percent (n = 580) of the parents were aware of sun exposure during childhood as a risk factor for skin cancer, but approximately only 15% of the parents reported using sunscreen regularly for themselves and for their children. Fifty-two percent (n = 367) of the parents implied not using any protective clothing for their children. Conclusion: Our study showed that parents were aware of the risks of sun exposure and the need for sun protection for themselves and children, but protective practices were low overall. Parents should be included in educational interventions targeting sun protection behaviors toward themselves and their children.