Factors associated with skin cancer prevention practices in a multiethnic population

A better understanding of factors influencing sun protection practices can improve the design and evaluation of skin cancer prevention programs. These data are from a cross-sectional survey of 756 parents with children in Gra des 1 through 3, and 176 recreation program staff members in a multiethnic population in Hawaii. Questionnaires asked about skin cancer prevention pra ctices (sunscreen use, covering up, shade seeking), knowledge, benefits and barriers, policies; and staff norms for prevention. The most important cor relates of children's prevention practices were their parents' sun protecti on habits. Multiple regression models-which included knowledge, beliefs, pr ogram policies, and covariates related to sun protection-explained a total of between 38% and 41% of the variance in children's sun safety habits, 22% to 25% of parents' habits, and 24% of recreation staff members' sun safety habits. The models were less successful at predicting the use of hats, shi rts, and shade seeking and a composite sun protection habits index; Parents and caregivers' knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors, as well as recreation p rogram policies, are strong predictors of sun protection practices among ch ildren in Grades 1 to 3 in a multiethnic sample.