Health disparities among different ethnic and racial middle and high school students in sun exposure beliefs and knowledge

Carol E Cheng; Blair Irwin; Dana Mauriello; Laura Hemminger; Amy Pappert; Alexandra B Kimball

doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.12.028

Health disparities among different ethnic and racial middle and high school students in sun exposure beliefs and knowledge

J Adolesc Health. 2010 Jul;47(1):106-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.12.028. Epub 2010 Mar 6.

Authors

Carol E Cheng¹, Blair Irwin, Dana Mauriello, Laura Hemminger, Amy Pappert, Alexandra B Kimball

Affiliation

¹ Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 50 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.

PMID: 20547300
DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.12.028

Abstract

Racial and ethnic differences may influence sun protection behavior. Adolescent students were administered a sun protection questionnaire and educational program. White people had the greatest pretest knowledge which resulted in the highest score, and blacks and Hispanics scored lower. White people who found tanned individuals attractive had greater score improvements. All groups improved after intervention.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Asian / psychology*
Black People / psychology*
Black or African American
Female
Health Education
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
Health Status Disparities*
Health Surveys
Hispanic or Latino / psychology*
Humans
Male
Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / ethnology*
Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / prevention & control*
Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / psychology
Skin Neoplasms / ethnology*
Skin Neoplasms / prevention & control*
Skin Neoplasms / psychology
Students / psychology*
Sunlight / adverse effects*
Sunscreening Agents / administration & dosage*
United States
White People / psychology*

Substances

Sunscreening Agents