New research shows children of melanoma survivors need better protection from sun's harmful rays
Children of Latino melanoma survivors are just as likely as children of non-Latino white survivors to have experienced sunburn in the past year.
In a groundbreaking new study, UCLA researchers have discovered that children of melanoma survivors are not adhering optimally to sun protection recommendations. This is concerning as sunburns are a major risk factor for melanoma, and children of survivors are at increased risk for developing the disease as adults.
Led by Dr. Beth Glenn, associate director of the JCCC Healthy and At-Risk Populations Research Program and the UCLA Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity, 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 over a three-year period. The study targeted both Latino melanoma survivors and non-Latino white melanoma survivors.
In the observational study, researchers asked parents about their attitudes towards 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.
Also, for the first time in a study focusing on children of melanoma survivors, Latinos were included. 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. Other study investigators included Dr. Roshan Bastani and Dr. Weng Kee Wong with the Fielding School and JCCC, as well as Dr. Karen Glanz from the Perelman School of Medicine and School of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania.
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 January 13th in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
The research was supported in part by the National Cancer Institute.
Faculty Referenced by this Article
Nationally recognized health services researcher and sociomedical scientist with 25+ years' experience in effectiveness and implementation research.
Dr. Ron Andersen is the Wasserman Professor Emeritus in the UCLA Departments of Health Policy and Management.
Dr. Michelle S. Keller is a health services researcher whose research focuses on the use and prescribing of high-risk medications.
EMPH Academic Program Director with expertise in healthcare marketing, finance, and reproductive health policy, teaching in the EMPH, MPH, MHA program
Professor of Community Health Sciences & Health Policy and Management, and Associate Dean for Research