Parental Sunscreen Use: A Descriptive Study of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Regarding Sun Protection in a Rural Population

The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between parents’ knowledge and attitudes about sunscreen use and their reported sunscreen use behaviors with their children, ages one to twelve, when playing outside and at the pool or beach in a rural and diverse population. Door-to-door surveys were conducted in randomly selected neighborhoods. Knowledge of doctors’ minimum SPF recommendation was found to be significant in how often sunscreen was used outside and at the pool or beach. Knowledge of the sun’s strongest hours was significantly related to how often sunscreen was used with children when at the pool or beach. Knowledge of consequences from a bad sunburn was found to be significant in how often sunscreen is used outside with children. Participants knowing that most of skin damage occurs prior to eighteen years old was significantly related to how often participants use sunscreen with children at the pool or beach. A weak positive correlation was found for seriousness of skin cancer. A weak negative correlation was found for remembering to use sunscreen, for difficulty remembering sunscreen and limited use due to cost. A weak positive correlation was found for increasing use leading to reduced cancer risk. Asians and Caucasians reported the highest sunscreen use. Knowing what knowledge and attitudinal factors lead to sunscreen use with parents is crucial to planning appropriate health education programs. Children are the most vulnerable population to skin damage and it is important that parents know how to properly protect them