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Sun protection behaviour and skin cancer literacy among outdoor runners

  • Clinical report
  • Published:
European Journal of Dermatology

Abstract

Background

Outdoor runners have an increased risk of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to assess skin cancer literacy and sun exposure and protection behaviour among outdoor runners during training.

Materials and methods

A cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted. All athletes registered for four consecutive running events in Porto: the Porto Marathon (November 2014), the Fathers’ Day 10-km race (March 2015), the Saint John’s Day 15-km race (June 2015), and the Porto half-marathon (September 2015). Athletes were invited to answer an online survey with 23 questions on the following items: sociodemographic and constitutional factors, skin cancer literacy, and sun exposure and protection behaviour. A scoring system was devised to analyse behaviour. Multivariate analysis was performed.

Results

The survey was completed by 2,445 runners, 2,159 of whom trained outdoors. Only 23.5% had adequate sun exposure and protection behaviour. A higher proportion of women than men had adequate behaviour (33% versus 17%; P < 0.001). Athletes with a university, or higher degree were more knowledgeable about skin cancer than those with a lower level of education, however, their behaviour in relation to sun exposure and protection was the same. Based on multivariate analysis, gender, skin type, marital status, and average number of hours spent training significantly affected attitude score.

Conclusions

Investment in more targeted campaigns, aimed particularly at high-risk groups such as outdoor athletes, is essential to modify attitudes and behaviour regarding sun exposure and protection. Outdoor sports event organisers and sport associations also need to engage.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro Dermatologia Epidermis, Instituto CUF, Rua Fonte Sete Bicas, 170, piso 2, 4460-188, Sra da Hora, Porto, Portugal

    Ana Filipa Duarte & Osvaldo J. C. Correia

  2. Portuguese Skin Cancer Association, Rua Calouste Gulbenkian, 52-3° E1, 4050-145, Porto, Portugal

    Ana Filipa Duarte, João N. M. Silva, António Picoto & Osvaldo J. C. Correia

  3. Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS) and Department of Health Information and Decision Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Plácido da Costa, 4200-450, Porto, Portugal

    Ana Filipa Duarte & Altamiro C. Pereira

  4. Department of Dermatology, Instituto Valenciano de Oncologia, Beltrán Báguena, 8 46009, Valencia, Spain

    Eduardo Nagore

  5. Alergology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Plácido da Costa, 4200-450, Porto, Portugal

    Osvaldo J. C. Correia

Authors
  1. Ana Filipa Duarte
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  2. Eduardo Nagore
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  3. João N. M. Silva
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  4. António Picoto
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  5. Altamiro C. Pereira
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  6. Osvaldo J. C. Correia
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ana Filipa Duarte.

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Cite this article

Duarte, A.F., Nagore, E., Silva, J.N.M. et al. Sun protection behaviour and skin cancer literacy among outdoor runners. Eur J Dermatol 28, 803–808 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2018.3450

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2018.3450

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