UC Irvine

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate how a personal and/or family history of skin cancer affects the frequency of engagement with a range of known skin-protective behaviors. The data for this study was collected using a self-report questionnaire during an in-person cancer fundraiser in Orange County, CA and was limited to adults over the age of 18. A total of 93 individuals completed the survey, however, two were excluded as they were less than 18 years of age. The sample population consisted of individuals who were majority white (55.2%), female (63.2%), and over the age of 35 (64.0%). Results reveal that individuals with a family history of skin cancer or have been diagnosed with skin cancer at some point in their life, engage more frequently in skin-protective behaviors compared to those with no prior diagnosis and those without a family history of skin cancer. Several trends emerged across other demographic characteristics that provide further insight into differences between those with and without a personal and/or family history of skin cancer. Further, results indicate that nearly 20% of individuals are not aware of their skin cancer risk. Lack of awareness of risk varied by race / ethnicity, with 12%, 45% and 27% of self-identified white, Hispanic/Latino and Asian respondents, respectively, reported that they don’t know their risk of skin cancer. Overall, the results generated by this study provide insights into the relationships between personal and family history of skin cancer and a range of well-established sun-protective behaviors and provide insights into opportunities for intervention.