The Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Parents Regarding Sun Protection for Their Children

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of parents toward protecting their children against skin cancer and the sun. Methods This cross-sectional study was performed in Turkey from March through October 2022. The authors used a questionnaire investigating the parents’ and children’s characteristics, attitudes, and practices toward sun protection and the Skin Cancer and Sun Knowledge (SCSK) scale to collect data. Results Of 465 parents, 60.2% were women, 83.2% were light-skinned, 20.2% perceived their children as risk-free, 43.8% perceived their children as low risk in terms of skin cancer, 14.6% examined their children from head to foot, 62.3% applied sunscreen to their children, 9.7% made them wear long-sleeved clothing, 60.0% made them wear headgear, 61.1% made them remain in the shade or under a sunshade, and 32.3% made them wear sunglasses. The mean parental SCSK scale score was 14.3 ± 4.1. Scale scores were higher among those who perceived their children as being at high risk for skin cancer (P = .000), whose children had not experienced red or painful sunburn in the previous year (P = .000), and who informed their children about sun protection (P = .000). Conclusions Although knowledge of skin cancer and solar protection was high, parental perception of the risk of skin cancer was very low, and attitudes toward skin examination were also very relaxed.