ASSESSMENT OF SUN-RELATED BEHAVIOR IN INDIVIDUALS WITH DYSPLASTIC NEVUS SYNDROME - A COMPARISON BETWEEN DIARY RECORDINGS AND QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES

In Sweden, individuals with dysplastic naevus syndrome (DNS-D2), a hig h risk group for malignant melanoma, are regularly screened and inform ed about self-examination and sun protection. During the summer of 199 4, 54 out of 65 consecutive patients completed 1 month of daily self-r ecordings of sun-related behaviour. The diary report was compared with questionnaire responses obtained 6 months later concerning sun-relate d behaviour, both habitual and during the month of self-recording, The correspondence between the sun-related behaviour recorded in the diar y and given in response to the questionnaire was fairly high, but 48% underestimated and 29% overestimated their actual number of sunbathing occasions in the questionnaire. Few patients indicated habitual high frequencies of sunbathing, although some of them recorded six or more occasions during 1 month in the diary. Those who recorded multiple sun burns reported the highest number of sunburns in the questionnaire, Pa tients who scored high on sunbed use also recorded high numbers of sun bathing occasions, Diaries should be used when detailed information ab out the magnitude of sun-related behaviour is essential, whereas quest ionnaires should be sufficient in studies aiming to differentiate betw een high and low frequencies of such behaviour.