Artificial and natural ultraviolet radiation exposure: beliefs and behaviour of 7200 French adults.

BACKGROUND

Despite the increasing use of indoor tanning facilities, little is known regarding the behaviour of adults with respect to artificial and natural ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure and the relationship between the two forms of exposure.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the beliefs and behaviour of French middle-aged volunteers regarding artificial and natural UV exposure.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study of a French national cohort using a self-completed questionnaire.

RESULTS

Participants were identified as 'indoor UV tanners' (n= 1076) and as 'non-users' (n= 6124). Predictor factors associated with indoor tanning were gender, age, smoking, phototype, region of residence, sun exposure during hobbies, voluntary sun exposure in particular during the hottest hours of the day, nudism practice, facial sunscreen habits, sunglass use, importance for lying in the sun and the claim 'ever heard of melanoma'.

LIMITATIONS

The quality of information may be limited by the data collection method.

CONCLUSION

Whereas indoor tanning should be discouraged, it seems that indoor tanners are also regular sunbathers unconcerned about the risk of photoageing and skin cancer occurrence. Moreover, indoor tanners seem to have more behavioural risk factors for cancer, such as smoking.