Attitudes and practice among dermatologists regarding indoor tanning
- PDF / 389,842 Bytes
- 4 Pages / 595.276 x 790.866 pts Page_size
- 71 Downloads / 225 Views
CONCISE COMMUNICATION
Attitudes and practice among dermatologists regarding indoor tanning Vinayak K. Nahar1,2 · Amanda H. Wilkerson3 · Jonathan E. Mayer4 · Zeynep Gromley5 · David Berry5 · Ludmila Nahar1 · Robert T. Brodell1 Received: 17 September 2019 / Revised: 5 December 2019 / Accepted: 7 December 2019 © Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2019
Abstract The aim of this study was to explore dermatologists’ practices and attitudes related to educating and counseling their adolescent patients about indoor tanning. An online survey was carried out with a convenience sample of 100 dermatologists. Findings indicated that the majority of the dermatologists are actively engaged in discussing tanning bed use and sun protection with their adolescent patients. Most expressed positive attitudes toward educating patients on the risks of tanning bed use. Limited time was the most commonly reported barrier for the lack of discussion regarding indoor tanning. Of note, more than half of the dermatologists (65%) had patients suffering from tanning addiction. For tanning-addicted patients, dermatologists can encourage lifestyle changes, the use of sunless tanning products, and referrals when the patient’s needs extend beyond the scope of the dermatologist. Keywords Indoor tanning · Tanning addiction · Dermatologists · Practice · Attitudes
Introduction Despite the strong association between use of indoor tanning beds and skin cancer risk [1], indoor tanning remains prevalent among adolescents in the US, with approximately 1.2 million high school students reporting indoor tanning in 2015 [2]. A US-based study conducted with 2,637 racially and ethnically diverse adolescents reported that 7.02% of the adolescents met the criteria for addiction to tanning [3]. * Vinayak K. Nahar [email protected] 1
Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street‑ L216, Jackson, MS 39216, USA
2
Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine/John D. Bower School of Population Health, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
3
Department of Human Environmental Sciences, College of Human Environmental Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
4
Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
5
DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN, USA
Clinicians can play a critical role in educating patients about tanning risks and importance of avoiding indoor tanning [4]. The aim of this study was to assess dermatologists’ current practices related to indoor tanning and assess their attitudes toward educating/counseling adolescent patients about the risks of indoor tanning.
Methods For this pilot study, data were collected electronically from 100 US board-certified dermatologists currently practicing in general or pediatric dermatology who acknowledged treating adolescent patients (aged 12–17 years). The Olson Research Group, a mark
Data Loading...
