Sunbed use, attitudes, and knowledge after the under-18s ban: a school-based survey of adolescents aged 15 to 17 years in Sandwell, United Kingdom.
BACKGROUND
Sunbed use in childhood increases risk of melanoma. The under-18s sunbed ban was introduced in England, April 2011. Impact on use has not been investigated since. This cross-sectional study estimates the prevalence of under-18s' use in Sandwell after the commercial ban and identifies factors associated with use/intention.


METHODS
Adolescents aged 15 to 17 years in schools were surveyed using self-completed anonymous questionnaires. Data collected include demographics, sunbed use, tanning attitudes, knowledge of risks and ban awareness. All Sandwell schools were approached; adolescents available on the survey days were included.


RESULTS
Five out of 22 schools participated, 407 adolescents responded (95.1%). Twenty participants (5.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.4-8.0) had used sunbeds, of who 16 reported use in commercial settings. After exclusion of one school cohort with atypical use (possibly associated with beauty vocational course and European migrants), the prevalence of use was 1.7% (95% CI = 0.7-3.9, n = 5). Less than half of all were aware of the ban (48.2%; 95% CI = 43.2-53.3). Users/potential users were less aware of associated risks. Being female, having family/friends who use sunbeds increased use/intention 2- to 4-fold.


CONCLUSION
Strategies targeting parents, stricter enforcement, and greater publicity of the ban are needed. Further research exploring the possible association between certain vocational courses, migrants, and sunbed use is required.
['Lee|Siang Ing|SI|', 'Macherianakis|Alexis|A|', 'Roberts|Lesley Martine|LM|']
D000293:Adolescent D001364:Awareness D001505:Beauty Culture D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D003469:Culture D003625:Data Collection D005190:Family D005260:Female D033062:Friends D033161:Government Regulation D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008545:Melanoma D012306:Risk D012309:Risk-Taking D012574:Schools D012737:Sex Factors D055108:Sunbathing D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D006113:United Kingdom
sunbed use knowledge ban adolescent school