SUNBED USER’S MOTIVATIONS, KNOWLEDGE AND HABITS IN

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

József Bakos, Judit Szabó, György ThuróczyDepartment of Non-ionizing Radiations, National

"Frédéric Joliot-Curie” Research Institute for Radiobiology and Radiohygiene,

H-1221. Budapest, Anna u. 5., Hungary.

Actuality of the topic

Recently issued international documents:

• WHO Recommendation, 17 March 2005

• EU Commission Opinion (2004/C275/03)

• Nordic advice, March 2005

WHO Recommendation17 March 2005

The World Health Organization recommends that no person under 18 should use a sunbed.

Growth in the use of sun beds, combined with the desire and fashion to have a tan, are considered to be the prime reasons behind the fast increase of skin cancers.

WHO counsels, that sun bed use should be considered only in very rare and specific cases.

EU COMMISSION OPINIONof 27 October 2004

(2004/C275/03)

The current version of EN standard 60335-2-27:1997

does not adequately address the risks related to

exposure to UV radiation because it does not provide

specific limit values of effective irradiance levels

needed for different tanning devices.

The European standards body CENELEC has been

requested by the European Commission to revise this

standard to ensure that the above mentioned risks are

adequately addressed.

Member States' Authorities shall take account of this

opinion in the context of market surveillance.

UV-Radiation of Sun bedsCommon public health advice from Nordic radiation protection and health authorities

March 2005

Since the exposure to UV-radiation in general should be restricted, the use of sun beds for tanning or other non-medical purposes is not advisable.

Young persons below 18 years and UV sensitive people (skin type I – II) are strongly advised not to use sun beds.

Background and indication of the study

Trends can be observed world-wide in the population :– the incidence of skin cancers is steadily

increasing– increase of natural UVB exposure and– increased use of artificial UV sources (sun

beds)

Lack of regulation(EU and national)

To gain information about sun bed user’s – motivations of sun bed use– habit of excessive use of sun bed– knowledge of UV risk.

On the base of the collected data, to be able to give advice to authorities to achieve:

• more UV risk awareness of the public by better education, and by this way

• the reduction of intended, excessive UV exposure of public.

Aim of the study

• Participants were recruited in 10 tanning salons in

Budapest between 24/03/2004 and 31/05/2005.

• Sun bed users were asked to complete a

questionnaire containing 59 questions

• 780 questionnaires were completed

• The data were stored on computer and

statistically analyzed.

Methods

ResultsIn the last year 9,5 % of the adult population (>18 years) have used sun bed.

It represents above 800 000 people in Hungary (above 200 000 people in Budapest).

Gender: 63,3 % woman; 36,7 % man

Education: > 65 % finished high school; > 27 % graduated.

50 % started to use sun bed under 19 years of age.

Skin type: > 22 % belongs to Fitzpatrick skin type I. - II. (tans poorly, burns easily)).

0,0

10,0

20,0

30,0

40,0

50,0

60,0

%

<21 21-30 31-40 41-50 51<

age groups(years)

Age distribution of sun bed users

Mean age: 27 years

73 % of sun bed users are under 30 years of age

Habits

• 86 % was regular user (> 9 years of use in average)

• 76 % used sun bed more than 30 times per year

• average exposure time was 11 minutes

• 74 % never used protective goggles

• 48 % rarely, 6 % frequently burn from sun bed

Why do you use sunbed?

0102030405060708090

100

It helps meto reach thebeauty ideal

Peopleaccept memore with

tanned skin

I find paleperson

unattractive

The tannedskin

increase myself-respect

Its usemakes mefeel good

The tannedmy skin the

moreconfident I

am

I prefer to bebronzed

during thewhole year

%

womenmen

Motivations of sun bed use

KNOWLEDGE

Source of the information about the health risk of sunbed use

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Electronicmedia

School Medicaldoctor

Sunbedsaloon

Others

%

What is your opinion about the health effects of sunbed use?

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

It cures I fell morehealthy

Tanned skinis morehealthy

It imprvesthe skin ofmy face

It improvesthe

resistance oforganism

It has anti-stress effect

Sunbed usefor cosmeticpurposes isbeneficial

women

men

Knowledge <> risk perception

Although sun bed user’s– 85 % is informed about health effects– 85 % know that skin is aged by UV– 61 % know that UV exposure and– 50 % know that sun bed use increases the

risk of skin cancer,

only 4 - 8 % understand that sun bed use is dangerous for health!

ConclusionsNeeds to be done:

• Improvement of education mainly in schools and at clinics

• To draw public attention on to the long term health effects.

• To fight against the fashion of tanned skin

• To introduce regulation on sun bed salons operation

Use sun bed !You were You might be