Tanning Attitudes That Predict the Prevalence and Frequency of Tanning bed use in Older Adolescents and Young Adults in Canada

tanning attitudes;indoor tanning;tanning bed use

Palubiski, Lisa

University of Waterloo

关键词: tanning attitudes;    indoor tanning;    tanning bed use;   

Others  :  https://uwspace.uwaterloo.ca/bitstream/10012/10537/1/Palubiski_Lisa.pdf

瑞士|英语

来源: UWSPACE Waterloo Institutional Repository

【 摘 要 】

Background: Tanning bed use is a modifiable risk factor in the development ofmelanoma skin cancer. Despite the increased risk of skin cancer, tanning bed use is mostcommon among the adolescent and young adult population. Adolescents and youngadults intentionally expose their skin to the artificial ultraviolet (UV) radiation emittedfrom tanning equipment. In Canada, the indoor tanning industry is largely unregulatedand in need of a coordinated public health intervention.Objectives: The objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence andfrequency of tanning bed use in the past 12 months and to identify the tanning attitudesthat predict the prevalence and higher frequency of tanning bed use in the past 12 monthsin the older adolescent and young adult population in Canada. The purpose of the studywas to identify key points of intervention and to provide valuable information to helpinform policy makers and health promotion workers when developing a strategy toreduce exposure to artificial UV radiation.Methods: The study used the data collected in the 2006 Second National SunSurvey (NSS2), the most recent and comprehensive survey in Canada to examineexposure to UV radiation. A logistic regression and negative binomial regression modelwas used to predict the prevalence and higher frequency of tanning bed use in the past 12months among older adolescents and young adults (aged 16 to 34) in the 2006 NSS2,respectively.Results: Overall, 21.5% of females and 8.3% of males (aged 16 to 34) in Canadawere found to have had used artificial tanning equipment at least once in the past 12months in 2006. Among those who had used a tanning bed in the past 12 months, 7.0% ofivfemales and 10.3% of males had used the equipment once, compared to 41.3% of femalesand 29.2% of males who had used the equipment more than 12 times.The individual level determinants that predict any use of a tanning bed in the past12 months include gender (female), ethnicity (white), the intent to suntan during thesummer months (always or often), the belief that people look better with a tan, and thebelief that you look more attractive with a tan. In addition, having skin that will freckle(no suntan) when repeatedly exposed to sunlight was negatively associated with any useof a tanning bed in the past 12 months. The belief that a tan gives a healthy outdoor look,on the other hand, did not predict any tanning bed use in the past 12 months. Amongthose who had used a tanning bed in the past 12 months, the individual level determinantsthat predict the higher frequency of tanning bed use include gender (female), skin thatwill moderately tan when repeatedly exposed to sunlight, the use of a tanning bed to lookbetter (reported as ;;very important’), and the use of a tanning bed to relax or feel better(reported as ;;very important’). The use of a tanning bed to boost their immune system, toprotect against cancer, and to get vitamin D did not predict the higher frequency oftanning bed use in the past 12 months.Conclusion: Tanning bed use in the older adolescent and young adult populationis a significant and growing public health concern both in Canada and worldwide. Theappearance-related motivation to use a tanning bed, but not the health-related motivationto use a tanning bed, is predictive of tanning bed use and is a key point of intervention.The tobacco industry is similar to the indoor tanning industry; however, tobacco controlefforts have led to the development of evidence-based policies, which may provide aframework to reduce tanning bed use.