TY  - JOUR
AU  - Truong, Amanda
AU  - Forbes, Brayden
AU  - Zhang, Mingyuan
AU  - McFadden, Molly
AU  - Klein, Stephanie
PY  - 2021
DA  - 2021/4/9
TI  - A Sun Safety Pilot Program Using a Tanning Myths–Focused Video Contest for Utah Adolescents: Cross-sectional Analysis
JO  - JMIR Dermatol
SP  - e20192
VL  - 4
IS  - 1
KW  - prevention
KW  - sun protection
KW  - questionnaire
KW  - photoprotection
KW  - experiential learning
KW  - teenager
KW  - safety
KW  - pilot
KW  - video
KW  - cross-sectional
KW  - adolescent
KW  - young adult
KW  - behavior
KW  - risk
KW  - knowledge
KW  - intention
AB  - Background: Adolescents are susceptible to excessive ultraviolet exposure due to intentional tanning, outdoor lifestyles, and poor sunscreen adherence. As skin cancer incidence continues to rise in the United States, effective and focused interventions are needed to encourage photoprotective behaviors. Objective: This study seeks to determine poor photoprotective behavior risk factors in adolescents residing in Utah and whether video contest participants have increased sun-protective knowledge and intentions. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed Utah high school students (n=20) who participated in a tanning myths-themed public service announcement video contest. A control cohort of students who did not participate in the video contest were also surveyed (n=89). Demographics, sun exposure history, intentions to tan, and intentions to use sunscreen were documented. Knowledge of tanning myths was assessed with a 7-question sun safety quiz. Results: The survey response rate was 93.2% (109/117). Two-thirds reported at least one sunburn, and 47.7% (52/109) reported intentional tanning within the past 2 years. Higher tanning intentions were associated with a personal (P<.001), family (P=.001), and peer (P<.001) history of tanning. Video contest participants had higher sun safety quiz scores (P<.001) and higher sunscreen use intentions (P=.01), but did not have decreased tanning intentions (P=.47) compared to non–video contest participants. Hispanic and Black students were less likely to participate in the video contest (P<.001 and P=.04, respectively). In a comparison of White students to students of color, there were no differences in sun exposure history, but students of color had lower sun safety knowledge (P=.01) and lower sunscreen use intention (P=.02). Conclusions: Sun safety educational disparities exist, and targeted efforts are needed to encourage photoprotective behaviors in high-risk populations. Our findings suggest that video contest participation may encourage sunscreen use and sun protection awareness. 
SN  - 2562-0959
UR  - https://derma.jmir.org/2021/1/e20192
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/20192
DO  - 10.2196/20192
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/20192
ER  -