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Attitudes and Practices Promoting Sun Exposure

Emily Gorell, BA; Carolyn Lee, MD, PhD; Claudia Muñoz, MD, MPH; Anne Lynn S. Chang, MD

Arch Dermatol. 2009;145(5):552-556.

Objective  To investigate whether the adoption of Western culture is associated with attitudes and practices promoting sun exposure among Asian Americans.

Design  Survey conducted from November 28, 2007, to January 28, 2008.

Setting  Primarily northern California community groups via online survey.

Participants  Adult volunteers who self-identified as Asian American.

Main Outcome Measures  Results based on 546 questionnaires returned.

Results  The overall response rate was 74.4%. Multivariate regression analysis controlling for age and skin type showed that westernization (as determined by generation in the United States, location raised, or self-rated acculturation) was associated with attitudes and behaviors promoting sun exposure (including the belief that having a tan is attractive, negative attitudes toward use of sunscreen and sun protective clothing, and increased weekend sun exposure, lying out to get a tan, and tanning bed use) at a level of P < .05.

Conclusions  Our data suggest that adoption of Western culture may be associated with attitudes and behaviors promoting sun exposure among Asian Americans. This group should be targeted by dermatologists for increased education regarding sun protection, solar damage, and skin cancer prevention and detection.

Author Affiliations: Department of Dermatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.

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