UCLA researchers have found that children of melanoma survivors are
not comprehensively adhering to sun protection recommendations, despite
them being at an increased risk for developing the disease as adults. This is the first study to include Latinos, whom have often been left out of skin cancer prevention research.
In the study led by Beth Glenn, associate director of the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center’s
Healthy and At-Risk Populations Research Program, researchers asked
parents about their attitudes toward melanoma prevention, how at risk
for melanoma they believed their child to be, and their current use of
sun protection strategies for their child. They found that about
three-quarters of parents relied on sunscreen to protect their child
against sun exposure, but less than a third of parents reported that
their child wore a hat or sunglasses or attempted to seek shade when
exposed to the sun.
Additionally, Glenn said, 43 percent of parents surveyed reported
that their child experienced a sunburn in the past year. This is
concerning because sunburns are a major risk factor for melanoma.
The UCLA researchers used the California Cancer Registry (which
tracks all cases of cancer across the state) to identify and survey 300
melanoma survivors with children ages 17 and younger during a three-year
period. The study targeted both non-Latino white melanoma survivors and
for the first time Latino melanoma survivors as well.
Latinos have often been left out of skin cancer prevention research
due to a common misconception that sun protection is not important for
this group.
“Sunburns were common among the children in our study despite their
elevated risk for skin cancer. Also, children of Latino survivors were
just as likely as children of non-Latino white survivors to have
experienced a recent sunburn, which highlights the importance of
including this group in our work,” said Glenn, associate professor of
Health Policy and Management in the UCLA Fielding School of Public
Health.
The survey results will be used to apply for additional funding to
develop an intervention program that combines a text message reminder
system with educational materials and activities for parents and
children. The intervention program is designed to help melanoma
survivors more effectively monitor and properly protect their child
against UV radiation.
“Protecting kids against the sun’s harmful rays at an early age is
vitally important. Our goal is to develop an intervention that will help
parents protect their children today and help children develop sun safe
habits that will reduce their risk for skin cancer in the future,” said
Glenn.
The study was published online Jan. 13 in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
The research was supported in part by the National Cancer Institute.