Vitamin D and Sun Exposure: A Community Survey in Australia
Sun exposure carries both harms and benefits. Exposing the skin to the sun is the main modifiable cause of skin cancers, which exert a considerable health and economic burden in Australia. The most well-established benefit of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is vitamin D production. Australia...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-02-01
|
| Series: | Current Oncology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/30/2/188 |
| _version_ | 1827757891404169216 |
|---|---|
| author | Vu Tran Monika Janda Robyn M. Lucas Donald S. A. McLeod Bridie S. Thompson Mary Waterhouse David C. Whiteman Rachel E. Neale |
| author_facet | Vu Tran Monika Janda Robyn M. Lucas Donald S. A. McLeod Bridie S. Thompson Mary Waterhouse David C. Whiteman Rachel E. Neale |
| author_sort | Vu Tran |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sun exposure carries both harms and benefits. Exposing the skin to the sun is the main modifiable cause of skin cancers, which exert a considerable health and economic burden in Australia. The most well-established benefit of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is vitamin D production. Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world but, despite the high ambient UV radiation, approximately one quarter of the population is estimated to be vitamin D deficient. Balancing the risks and benefits is challenging and requires effective communication. We sought to provide a snapshot of public knowledge and attitudes regarding sun exposure and vitamin D and to examine the associations between these factors and sun protective behaviors. In 2020 we administered an online survey; 4824 participants with self-reported fair or medium skin color were included in this analysis. Only 25% and 34% of participants were able to identify the amount of time outdoors needed to maintain adequate vitamin D status in summer and winter, respectively and 25% were concerned that sunscreen use inhibits vitamin D synthesis. This lack of knowledge was associated with suboptimal sun protection practices. Public education is warranted to prevent over-exposure, while supporting natural vitamin D production. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:57:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5529f487431a477a8f98ead42e58c6fb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1198-0052 1718-7729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:57:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Current Oncology |
| spelling | doaj.art-5529f487431a477a8f98ead42e58c6fb2023-11-16T19:58:35ZengMDPI AGCurrent Oncology1198-00521718-77292023-02-013022465248110.3390/curroncol30020188Vitamin D and Sun Exposure: A Community Survey in AustraliaVu Tran0Monika Janda1Robyn M. Lucas2Donald S. A. McLeod3Bridie S. Thompson4Mary Waterhouse5David C. Whiteman6Rachel E. Neale7QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, AustraliaThe University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, AustraliaThe Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, AustraliaQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, AustraliaQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, AustraliaQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, AustraliaQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, AustraliaQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, AustraliaSun exposure carries both harms and benefits. Exposing the skin to the sun is the main modifiable cause of skin cancers, which exert a considerable health and economic burden in Australia. The most well-established benefit of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is vitamin D production. Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world but, despite the high ambient UV radiation, approximately one quarter of the population is estimated to be vitamin D deficient. Balancing the risks and benefits is challenging and requires effective communication. We sought to provide a snapshot of public knowledge and attitudes regarding sun exposure and vitamin D and to examine the associations between these factors and sun protective behaviors. In 2020 we administered an online survey; 4824 participants with self-reported fair or medium skin color were included in this analysis. Only 25% and 34% of participants were able to identify the amount of time outdoors needed to maintain adequate vitamin D status in summer and winter, respectively and 25% were concerned that sunscreen use inhibits vitamin D synthesis. This lack of knowledge was associated with suboptimal sun protection practices. Public education is warranted to prevent over-exposure, while supporting natural vitamin D production.https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/30/2/188skin cancersvitamin Dsun exposuresun protectionknowledgeattitudes |
| spellingShingle | Vu Tran Monika Janda Robyn M. Lucas Donald S. A. McLeod Bridie S. Thompson Mary Waterhouse David C. Whiteman Rachel E. Neale Vitamin D and Sun Exposure: A Community Survey in Australia Current Oncology skin cancers vitamin D sun exposure sun protection knowledge attitudes |
| title | Vitamin D and Sun Exposure: A Community Survey in Australia |
| title_full | Vitamin D and Sun Exposure: A Community Survey in Australia |
| title_fullStr | Vitamin D and Sun Exposure: A Community Survey in Australia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vitamin D and Sun Exposure: A Community Survey in Australia |
| title_short | Vitamin D and Sun Exposure: A Community Survey in Australia |
| title_sort | vitamin d and sun exposure a community survey in australia |
| topic | skin cancers vitamin D sun exposure sun protection knowledge attitudes |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/30/2/188 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vutran vitamindandsunexposureacommunitysurveyinaustralia AT monikajanda vitamindandsunexposureacommunitysurveyinaustralia AT robynmlucas vitamindandsunexposureacommunitysurveyinaustralia AT donaldsamcleod vitamindandsunexposureacommunitysurveyinaustralia AT bridiesthompson vitamindandsunexposureacommunitysurveyinaustralia AT marywaterhouse vitamindandsunexposureacommunitysurveyinaustralia AT davidcwhiteman vitamindandsunexposureacommunitysurveyinaustralia AT racheleneale vitamindandsunexposureacommunitysurveyinaustralia |