Assessment of a new questionnaire for self-reported sun sensitivity in an occupational skin cancer screening program

Abstract

Background: Sun sensitivity of the skin is a risk factor for the development of cutaneous melanoma and other skin cancers. Epidemiological studies on causal factors for the development of melanoma must control for sun sensitivity as a confounder. A standardized instrument for measuring sun sensitivity has not been established yet. It is assumed that many studies show a high potential of residual confounding for sun sensitivity. In the present study, a new questionnaire for the assessment of self-reported sun sensitivity is administered and examined.

Predicting serum vitamin D concentrations based on self-reported lifestyle factors and personal attributes

“…The vitamin D content in each food/beverage, obtained from the Canadian Nutrient File ( 28 ) , was multiplied by the frequency of intake of a standard serving of that food/beverage and then summed to give total dietary vitamin D intake. We also defined a sun sensitivity score variable based on responses to eye colour, hair colour, skin tone, tendency to burn at first exposure to sun and tanning ability ( 29 ) . For each of these items, responses were assigned a value between 1 and 4, with low values indicating high sun sensitivity and high values indicating low sensitivity, based on the literature when available ( 29 , 30 ) .…”

MelaNostrum: a consensus questionnaire of standardized epidemiologic and clinical variables for melanoma risk assessment by the melanostrum consortium

“…Previous questionnaires for melanoma studies include the Q-skin, 27 the Sun Exposure Behaviour Inventory (SEBI), 17 and the Sun Exposure and Protection Index (SEPI), 18 among others. [19][20][21] The Q-skin questionnaire is considered one of the most complete tools. However, its test-retest reliability for the measurement of phenotypic characteristics, sun exposure and nevus-related variables was not high.…”

“…Earlier questionnaires or surveys in melanoma studies focused only on few variables or lacked high test-retest reliability. [17][18][19][20][21] We sought to generate a comprehensive tool that would allow us to pool data from studies on CM carried out by the MelaNostrum Consortium as well as by other centres.…”

Screening for skin cancer in bank and insurance employees: risk profile and correlation of self and physician's assessment

“…[16][17][18] However, the definition of sunburn varies across the literature. [16][17][18] However, the definition of sunburn varies across the literature.…”

“…Several epidemiological studies described a strong association between sun exposure in childhood and the subsequent risk of melanoma in adulthood, whereas painful sunburns before the age of 20 years were reported to be associated with an increasing risk of developing cutaneous malignant melanoma. [16][17][18] However, the definition of sunburn varies across the literature. Moreover, most individuals do not remember painful sunburns in childhood, and there is no scaling to classify different types of sunburn.…”