Background/Purpose: Research suggests that youth proximity to tanning salons may promote use; however, little is known about tanning salon proximity to schools. We assessed the proximity of tanning salons to schools in urban versus rural/suburban communities across Worcester County, Massachusetts (population > 800K). To put findings in context, we compared school proximity to tanning salons to school proximity to McDonald's restaurants, a large franchise that also caters to young people. Materials & Methods: Accessibility was measured by ArcGIS 10.2 Network Analyzer (ESRI, Redlands, CA, USA) and the most current road network data layer from Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). Results: A total of 145 schools were observed in the study area, of which about 39% of schools were within 1 mile from a tanning salon. Urban schools (53.41%) had a higher proportion within 1 mile of a tanning salon than rural/suburban schools (17.54%; P < .001). More schools (39.31%) were within 1 mile of a tanning salon than schools within 1 mile of a McDonald's (22.70%; P < .001). Conclusions: Schools may be particularly impactful for implementing skin cancer prevention programing.

Skin cancer incidence rates, including those for melanoma, continue to rise each year. These rates are increasing fastest among younger generations, making it important to understand the behavioral risks for the disease in this population. Adolescent females are especially at risk because of the ever-increasing popularity of indoor tanning (IT) and purposeful exposure to UV radiation. The study’s objective was to examine the prevalence of IT and the associated sociodemographic correlates in female teens (12-18 years of age) residing in the United States. Adolescent females (N=777) were recruited through Knowledge Networks’ online proprietary Knowledge Panel using dual frame recruiting with address-based and random-digit dialing to provide a national sample. Participants’ age, race, and tanning behavior, marital status of the parents and metropolitan residence status were self-reported in an online questionnaire. Frequencies and percentages were calculated. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent sociodemographic correlates of female teens ever having used a tanning bed or booth. Data analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics version 19. Eighteen percent of American female teens had ever engaged in IT. The sample was predominantly white (79.9%), lived in a metropolitan area (84.7%), and had parents who were married (75.6%). Metropolitan status was the strongest correlate of IT behavior, with non-metropolitan residents 2 times more likely to have ever indoor tanned compared to females living in metropolitan areas (Odds ratio (OR): 2.09, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.27-3.44). Additionally, a one-year increase in age was associated with 55% increase in the prevalence of ever IT (OR 1.5, CI 1.37- 1.75). Also, females with unmarried parents were 89% more likely to have ever tanned compared with females whose parents were married (OR: 1.89, 95% CI: 1.23-3.09). White females were 0.16 times more likely to have ever indoor tanned compared to other races (OR: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.08-0.36). All independent variables were statistically significant at the p

Background: Evidence suggests that indoor tanning may have addictive properties. However, many instruments for measuring indoor tanning addiction show poor validity and reliability. Recently, a new instrument, the Behavioral Addiction Indoor Tanning Screener (BAITS), has been developed. Objectives: To test the validity and reliability of the BAITS by using a multimethod approach. Methods: We used data from the first wave of the National Cancer Aid Monitoring on Sunbed Use, which included a cognitive pretest (August 2015) and a Germany‐wide representative survey (October to December 2015). In the cognitive pretest 10 users of tanning beds were interviewed and 3000 individuals aged 14–45 years were included in the representative survey. Potential symptoms of indoor tanning addiction were measured using the BAITS, a brief screening survey with seven items (answer categories: yes vs. no). Criterion validity was assessed by comparing the results of BAITS with usage parameters. Additionally, we tested internal consistency and construct validity. Results: A total of 19·7% of current and 1·8% of former indoor tanning users were screened positive for symptoms of a potential indoor tanning addiction. We found significant associations between usage parameters and the BAITS (criterion validity). Internal consistency (reliability) was good (Kuder–Richardson‐20, 0·854). The BAITS was shown to be a homogeneous construct (construct validity). Conclusions: Compared with other short instruments measuring symptoms of a potential indoor tanning addiction, the BAITS seems to be a valid and reliable tool. With its short length and the binary items the BAITS is easy to use in large surveys.

Skin cancer incidence is increasing while the rates of other cancers is declining. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine whether health self-efficacy predicted skin cancer protective behaviors. The theory of health self-efficacy provided the framework for the study. Secondary data were collected from the 2008 and 2014 Health Information National Trends Surveys. The study sample included women 18-34 years of age because this population is especially vulnerable to skin cancer. Results of logistic regression analyses indicated that higher levels of health self-efficacy predicted greater sunscreen use, but higher health self-efficacy levels did not predict avoidance of tanning bed or booth use. No significant changes were found in sunscreen use and tanning bed and booth use between 2008 and 2014. Findings may be used to develop educational programs and medical interventions to decrease the incidence of skin cancer.

This study designed and implemented an appearance-based skin cancer prevention intervention in college-aged females. One hundred and forty-seven respondents were randomly assigned to treatment or control groups. Treatment respondents received a short workbook describing the appearance damaging effects of indoor tanning. At short-term follow-up (2 weeks later) treatment respondents had significantly more negative attitudes toward indoor tanning, and reported fewer intentions to indoor tan. At 2-month follow-up, treatment respondents reported indoor tanning one-half as much as control respondents in the previous 2 months. This appearance-based intervention was able to produce clinically significant changes in indoor tanning use tendencies that could have a beneficial effect on the future development of skin cancer.

No description available.

Twitter may be useful for learning about indoor tanning behavior and attitudes. The objective of this study was to analyze the content of tweets about indoor tanning to determine the extent to which tweets are posted by people who tan, and to characterize the topics of tweets. We extracted 4,691 unique tweets from Twitter using the terms “tanning bed” or “tanning salon” over 7 days in March 2016. We content analyzed a random selection of 1,000 tweets, double-coding 20% of tweets (κ = 0.74, 81% agreement). Most tweets (71%) were by tanners (n = 699 individuals) and included tweets expressing positive sentiment about tanning (57%), and reports of a negative tanning experience (17%), burning (15%), or sleeping in a tanning bed (9%). Four percent of tweets were by tanning salon employees. Tweets posted by people unlikely to be tanners (15%) included tweets mocking tanners (71%) and health warnings (29%). The term “tanning bed” had higher precision for identifying individuals who engage in indoor tanning than “tanning salon”; 77% versus 45% of tweets captured by these search terms were by individuals who engaged in indoor tanning, respectively. Extrapolating to the full data set of 4,691 tweets, findings suggest that an average of 468 individuals who engage in indoor tanning can be identified by their tweets per day. The majority of tweets were from tanners and included reports of especially risky habits (e.g., burning, falling asleep). Twitter provides opportunity to identify indoor tanners and examine conversations about indoor tanning.

Introduction. Sunbeds emit ultraviolet (UV) radiation to produce a cosmetic tan and are classified by the World Health Organization as first-group carcinogens: they have been significantly associated with increased risk of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. Despite this, controversies still exist: since sunbeds are able to increase serum vitamin D, the sunbed industry relentlessly tries to promote them as a safe therapeutic measure; and some authors have recently expressed scepticism about the carcinogenicity of sunbeds. Moreover, differences between European countries in terms of prevalence of use have not been extensively studied and a better understanding of the determinants of use in Europe is much needed. Similarly, the association of sunbed use with skin cancer risk factors is poorly understood. Euromelanoma is a skin cancer prevention campaign conducted all over Europe. It offers a once-a-year screening during which participants’ data, including sunbed use and phenotype, are collected via questionnaires.Objectives. To thoroughly describe prevalence, determinants, and risks associated with sunbed use in Europe. To this aim we performed literature reviews (3 publications) and an extensive analysis of the Euromelanoma database, which included data from 30 European countries (2 publications).Methods. For the 3 reviews we searched the most used databases for any literature published in English using all pertinent keywords. As for the 2 Euromelanoma studies, participants filled in questionnaires about demographics and risk factors, including type/duration of sunbed use. Multivariate analyses adjusted for all confounders were employed to assess factors independently associated with sunbed use in each country.Results. Our reviews showed that: (i) European sunbed users are typically young women, sun seekers, and smokers, mostly from northern countries, going to tanning studios with aesthetic motives, although exceptions exist; (ii) in case of vitamin D deficiency, the risk/benefit ratio is clearly in favour of vitamin D supplementation instead of sunbed use; (iii) all epidemiological criteria for causality apply to the relationship between sunbed use and melanoma. The Euromelanoma studies included 227,888 individuals (67.4% females, median age 44) from 30 countries. Overall prevalence of sunbed ever use was 10.6%. Prevalence was higher in northern, sun-deprived countries, with the exception of Italy and Spain. Females displayed higher prevalence than males in all countries. Geographic particularities were found in four regions: Iberian (prevalence ten times higher in Spain than Portugal), Balkan (prevalence disproportionately higher among women), Baltic (highest prevalence among young adults), and Scandinavian (highest prevalence among adolescents). Ever sunbed use was independently associated with nevus count >50 [summary odds ratio (SOR)=1.05 (1.01-1.10)], atypical nevi [SOR=1.04 (1.00-1.09)], lentigines [SOR=1.16 (1.04-1.29)], and suspicion of melanoma [SOR=1.13 (1.00-1.27)]. Conclusions. After a thorough literature revision, we concluded that the debate over whether sunbed use contributes to melanoma should be definitively closed and that sunbeds are not a safe option to increase vitamin D levels. The Euromelanoma analysis on sunbeds and skin cancer risk factors suggests that avoidance/discontinuation of sunbed use should always be encouraged, especially, but not exclusively, for individuals with high-risk phenotypes. The data about prevalence/determinants of sunbed use have public health relevance for future, tailored interventions aimed at reducing indoor tanning in Europe. / Introduction. Les bancs solaires émettent des radiations ultraviolettes (UV) pour induire un bronzage cosmétique. Ils sont classés par l’Organisation Mondiale de la Santé comme carcinogènes de premier groupe: ils sont significativement associés à un risque accru de mélanome et de cancers cutanés non-mélanome. Malgré ça, des controverses existent toujours :comme leur utilisation permet d’accroitre le taux sérique de vitamine D, l’industrie du bronzage artificiel n’a cessé de les promouvoir comme thérapeutique sans danger et certains auteurs ont récemment mis en doute la carcinogénicité des bancs solaires. Par ailleurs, les différences entre les pays européens en terme de prévalence et de facteurs déterminant l’utilisation des bancs solaires n’ont pas été clairement étudiées. De la même façon, la relation entre bronzage artificiel et facteurs de risque de cancérisation cutanée reste floue. Euromelanoma est une campagne pan-européenne annuelle de prévention de cancers cutanés, où des questionnaires récoltent les données des participants (usage des bancs solaires, phénotype et informations cliniques inclus).Objectifs. Décrire de manière approfondie la prévalence, les déterminants et les risques associés à l’utilisation des bancs solaires en Europe. Dans ce but, nous avons réalisé des revues de littérature (3 publications) et une analyse extensive de la base de données Euromelanoma qui couvre 30 pays européens (2 publications).Méthodes. Pour les 3 revues, nous avons cherché dans toute la littérature publiée en anglais sur les moteurs de recherche les plus utilisés, en employant des mots clés pertinents. Les participants des 2 études Euromelanoma ont rempli des questionnaires colligeant les facteurs démographiques et de risque, le type et la durée d’utilisation des bancs solaires. Des analyses multi-variées ont permis d’évaluer les facteurs indépendamment associés à l’usage des bancs solaire dans chaque pays.Résultats. Les revues de littérature ont montré que :(i) les utilisateurs européens sont typiquement des femmes jeunes/adultes, amatrices de soleil, fumeuses, ressortissantes des pays nordiques, motivées par des raisons esthétiques et préférant les centres de bronzage, même si des exceptions existent ;(ii) dans le cas d’une carence en vitamine D, le rapport risque/bénéfice est clairement en faveur de la supplémentation en vitamine D plutôt que du bronzage artificiel ;(iii) tous les critères épidémiologiques de causalité s’appliquent à la relation entre les bancs solaires et le mélanome. Les études Euromelanoma ont été réalisées sur 227,888 individus (67.4% femmes, âge médian 44 ans) issus de 30 pays. La prévalence globale d’utilisation des bancs solaires était 10.6%, mais était plus élevée dans les pays nordiques et non ensoleillés, l’Italie et l’Espagne faisant exception. Dans tous les cas, les femmes avaient une prévalence d’utilisation plus élevée que les hommes. Des particularités géographiques ont été relevées dans 4 régions :la péninsule ibérique (prévalence 10 fois plus élevée en Espagne qu’au Portugal), les Balkans (disproportions excessives de prévalence entre femmes et hommes), les pays baltiques (la prévalence la plus élevée chez les jeunes/adultes), et scandinaves (la prévalence la plus élevée chez les adolescents). Avoir utilisé au moins une fois un banc solaire était indépendamment associé avec :un nombre de naevi >50 [summary odds ratio (SOR)=1.05 (1.01-1.10)], la présence de naevi atypiques [SOR=1.04 (1.00-1.09)] et des lentigines [SOR=1.16 (1.04-1.29)] et la suspicion de mélanome [SOR=1.13 (1.00-1.27)]. Conclusions. La revue complète de la littérature nous permet d’affirmer que le débat sur la relation causale entre bancs solaires et mélanome doit être clos et que leur utilisation pour corriger un déficit sérique en vitamine D n’est pas sans danger. L’analyse Euromelanoma sur l’utilisation des bancs solaires et les facteurs de risque de cancer cutané suggère que le bronzage artificiel devrait toujours être dissuadé, spécialement mais pas exclusivement chez les individus avec des phénotypes à haut risque. Les données de la prévalence et des facteurs déterminant l’utilisation des bancs solaires constituent un intérêt de santé publique et devraient permettre de cibler les actions nécessaires à la réduction du bronzage artificiel en Europe. / Doctorat en Sciences médicales (Médecine) / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

No description available.

Online social media sites are increasingly used in public health efforts1 and may represent a valuable avenue to target messages discouraging use of indoor tanning (IT) beds to young women, a group with high levels of engagement in social media and the highest rates of IT.2 This study aimed to examine the association between use of social media sites and IT behavior.