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Demographic Differences in Sun Protection Beliefs and Behavior: A Community-Based Study in Shanghai, China

Author

Listed:
  • Shuxian Yan

    (Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Feng Xu

    (Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Chunxue Yang

    (School of Public Health, Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Fei Li

    (Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China)

  • Jing Fan

    (Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China)

  • Linggao Wang

    (Department of Dermatology, Suzhou First Hospital, Anhui 234000, China)

  • Minqiang Cai

    (Xinjing Community Health Service Center, Shanghai 200335, China)

  • Jianfeng Zhu

    (Xinjing Community Health Service Center, Shanghai 200335, China)

  • Haidong Kan

    (School of Public Health, Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China)

  • Jinhua Xu

    (Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China)

Abstract

Objective : We want to know the attitudes and behaviors towards UV protection and we want to analyze the difference between different Chinese demographic groups in this study. Methods : A community-based study was undertaken in Shanghai from October 2009 to January 2010. The participants, ages 20–60 years old, were screened by cluster sampling and were investigated through interviews at their own homes. Personal basic information and questions pertaining to their knowledge and attitudes towards sunlight and sun protective activities were included in the questionnaire. Results: We completed 5964 questionnaires (2794 men and 3170 women). Eighty-six percent of the respondents belonged to Fitzpatrick skin type IV. Knowledge about UV-induced risks was known by more than half of the participants. However, only one-third of the participants thought they needed sun protection in winter and indoors or in vehicles, and 27% of the participants acknowledged tanning was not favorable. The attitudes towards sun exposure varied greatly, showing significant differences based on gender, age, socioeconomic groups and skin type groups ( p < 0.05). Fifty-five percent of the participants never use an umbrella under sunlight, only 26.5% of the respondents wear hats, and 21.3% of the participants applied sunscreen. Females and individuals of a younger age and higher education level were more likely to perform sun-protective behaviors than males and those of an older age and lower education level ( p < 0.001). Conclusion : There is a deficit in the use of sun protection existing in our surveyed Chinese population, especially in males and lower socioeconomic population, which could allow for planning prevention campaigns and exploring sun-preventive products.

Suggested Citation

  • Shuxian Yan & Feng Xu & Chunxue Yang & Fei Li & Jing Fan & Linggao Wang & Minqiang Cai & Jianfeng Zhu & Haidong Kan & Jinhua Xu, 2015. "Demographic Differences in Sun Protection Beliefs and Behavior: A Community-Based Study in Shanghai, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-14, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:3:p:3232-3245:d:46969
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Suzanne Dobbinson & Kris Jamsen & Helen Dixon & Matthew Spittal & Magdalena Lagerlund & John Lipscomb & Natalie Herd & Melanie Wakefield & David Hill, 2014. "Assessing population-wide behaviour change: concordance of 10-year trends in self-reported and observed sun protection," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 59(1), pages 157-166, February.
    2. Andrew E Mayes & Peter G Murray & David A Gunn & Cyrena C Tomlin & Sharon D Catt & Yi B Wen & Li P Zhou & Hong Q Wang & Michael Catt & Stewart P Granger, 2010. "Environmental and Lifestyle Factors Associated with Perceived Facial Age in Chinese Women," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(12), pages 1-7, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Daniela Haluza & Markus Schwab & Stana Simic & Renate Cervinka & Hanns Moshammer, 2015. "Perceived Relevance of Educative Information on Public (Skin) Health: Results of a Representative, Population-Based Telephone Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-15, November.
    2. Daniela Haluza & Stana Simic & Hanns Moshammer, 2016. "Sun Exposure Prevalence and Associated Skin Health Habits: Results from the Austrian Population-Based UVSkinRisk Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, January.

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