Feasibility of smartphone diaries and personal dosimeters to quantitatively study exposure to ultraviolet radiation in a small national sample

Abstract

We found diary data reported on a daily basis through smartphones more strongly associated with actual outdoor time than questionnaire data. Our results demonstrate tools and possible considerations for executing a UV behavior questionnaire validation.

The validated sun exposure questionnaire: association of objective and subjective measures of sun exposure in a Danish population‐based sample

“…The radiation registered on the dosimeter explains the largest part and the influence from the covariates weather and education is similar to the model in Table 4 (timescale). The influence of protection is unclear; 104 0Á40 (0Á23-0Á55)*** 0Á48 (0Á31-0Á61)*** 0Á50 (0Á34-0Á63)*** 35-44 118 0Á52 (0Á38-0Á64)*** 0Á50 (0Á35-0Á63)*** 0Á49 (0Á34-0Á62)*** 45-54 132 0Á61 (0Á49-0Á71)*** 0Á64 (0Á52-0Á73)*** 0Á67 (0Á56-0Á75)*** 55-65 210 0Á48 (0Á37-0Á60)*** 0Á50 (0Á39-0Á60)*** 0Á48 (0Á36-0Á57)*** Skin type I 5 4 0 Á47 (0Á23-0Á66)*** 0Á54 (0Á32-0Á71)*** 0Á47 (0Á23-0Á65)*** II 383 0Á55 (0Á47-0Á61)*** 0Á52 (0Á44-0Á59)*** 0Á55 (0Á47-0Á61)*** III/IV 227 0Á51 (0Á41-0Á60)*** 0Á55 (0Á46-0Á64)*** 0Á52 (0Á41-0Á61)*** Region Capital 187 0Á49 (0Á38-0Á60)*** 0Á55 (0Á44-0Á64)*** 0Á55 (0Á44-0Á64)*** Zealand 103 0Á72 (0Á61-0Á80)*** 0Á72 (0Á62-0Á81)*** 0Á70 (0Á58-0Á78)*** Northern Jutland 68 0Á49 (0Á28-0Á65)*** 0Á53 (0Á33-0Á68)*** 0Á59 (0Á41-0Á73)*** Central Jutland 167 0Á50 (0Á37-0Á60)*** 0Á47 (0Á34-0Á58)*** 0Á48 (0Á35-0Á59)*** Southern Denmark 139 0Á47 (0Á33-0Á59)*** 0Á49 (0Á35-0Á61)*** 0Á43 (0Á29-0Á56)*** Education Primary school 117 0Á54 (0Á40-0Á66)*** 0Á61 (0Á49-0Á71)*** 0Á52 (0Á37-0Á64)*** Secondary school 90 0Á48 (0Á30-0Á62)*** 0Á41 (0Á22-0Á57)*** 0Á39 (0Á20-0Á55)*** Vocational 91 0Á52 (0Á36-0Á66)*** 0Á63 (0Á48-0Á78)*** 0Á56 (0Á40-0Á69)*** Higher education (< 2 years) 67 0Á32 (0Á08-0Á52)** 0Á37 (0Á14-0Á56)** 0Á37 (0Á14-0Á56)** Higher education (2-4½ years) 213 0Á52 (0Á41-0Á61)*** 0Á51 (0Á41-0Á61)*** 0Á54 (0Á44-0Á63)*** Higher education (> 4½ years) 80 0Á65 (0Á51-0Á76)*** 0Á60 (0Á43-0Á72)*** 0Á63 (0Á48-0Á75)*** Season Pre (weeks [19][20][21][22][23][24] 238 0Á47 (0Á36-0Á56)*** 0Á50 (0Á39-0Á59)*** 0Á42 (0Á30-0Á52)*** Mid (weeks [25][26][27][28][29][30] 246 0Á59 (0Á50-0Á66)*** 0Á59 (0Á50-0Á67)*** 0Á58 (0Á49-0Á65)*** Post (weeks [31][32][33][34][35] 180 0Á45 (0Á33-0Á56)*** 0Á47 (0Á35-0Á57)*** 0Á49 (0Á37-0Á59)*** Own or family-related melanoma Yes 147 0Á46 (0Á32-0Á58)*** 0Á43 (0Á29-0Á56)*** 0Á41 (0Á27-0Á54)*** No 517 0Á55 (0Á49-0Á61)*** 0Á57 (0Á50-0Á62)*** 0Á56 (0Á50-0Á62)*** Weather 1 (Most of the time sunny) 191 0Á55 (0Á44-0Á64)*** 0Á53 (0Á42-0Á63)*** 0Á51 (0Á40-0Á61)*** 2 176 0Á41 (0Á28-0Á53)*** 0Á44 (0Á31-0Á55)*** 0Á35 (0Á22-0Á48)*** 3 152 0Á41 (0Á27-0Á53)*** 0Á38 (0Á24-0Á51)*** 0Á43 (0Á29-0Á55)*** 4 8 3 0 Á46 (0Á27-0Á62)*** 0Á42 (0Á23-0Á59)*** 0Á37 (0Á16-0Á54)*** 5 (Most of the time cloudy) 61 0Á22 (À0Á04 to 0Á44) 0Á37 (0Á14-0Á57)** 0Á27 (0Á02-0Á49)* Spearman correlation coefficients are reported with 95% confidence intervals. Significance levels: *P < 0Á05, **P < 0Á01, ***P < 0Á001.…”

“…29 They are based on a visible-blind AlGaN photodiode and their spectral response (240-320 nm) and cosine response were previously described by Allen and McKenzie. 29 The version used here was redesigned and manufactured by Scienterra Ltd, New Zealand, and used by Cargill et al, 23 Wright et al 30 and Køster et al 27 The dosimeters were configured to take time-stamped measurements at 30-s intervals from 7:00 to 19:00. Wristbands were attached to the dosimeters.…”

“…We showed criteria validity in a small sample and established that UVR exposure measurement periods of 1-3 weeks were applicable and yielded questionnaire results validly reflecting the measured UVR exposure. 27,28 The aims of this study were to establish the criteria validity of a questionnaire developed for monitoring and evaluating population sun-related behaviour. To our knowledge, this is the first study to validate a questionnaire on sun-related behaviour against objective UVR measurements in a national random population-based sample.…”

“…A calculation showed that a 2/3 success rate of 1105 potential participants would provide sufficient power even for subgroup analysis assuming a 0Á38 correlation coefficient. 27 The number of invitations was based on recruitment from our pilot study. 27 As one aim of the project was to develop a validated questionnaire which can be used in the future without further dosimetry measurements, the participants were blinded towards this purpose to avoid the use of homemade diaries or similar behaviour book-keeping.…”

“…27 The number of invitations was based on recruitment from our pilot study. 27 As one aim of the project was to develop a validated questionnaire which can be used in the future without further dosimetry measurements, the participants were blinded towards this purpose to avoid the use of homemade diaries or similar behaviour book-keeping. Thus, the participants were informed only of the overall aim: 'to improve knowledge and evaluation of the Danes' sun-related behaviour'.…”