Attitudes and Behaviors Regarding Sun-Protection Practices Among Minority Groups in a Lower Socioeconomic Community

Abstract Background: Although skin cancer is less common, minorities present with more advanced stages at diagnosis and have worse outcomes. Literature on this disparity is limited.Objective: To evaluate attitudes influencing sun protective behaviors, skin cancer risk perception, and dermatologist access among an underserved, racially/ethnically diverse community.Methods: A cross-sectional survey of patients at 5 ethnically diverse student-run, free primary care clinics in Sacramento, California.Results: 390 surveys were collected with a response rate: 86.4%. Overall, respondents did not use sunscreen, rarely sunburned, were unsure or perceived themselves at low risk for skin cancer and reported limited access to dermatologists. Compared to Whites, Latinos were likely to believe it was not worth getting sunburned to be tan (OR = 24.43, 95% CI: 9.37 to 63.3, P < 0.0001). Whites were more likely than Asians (OR = 3.69, 95% CI: 1.50 to 9. 11, P = 0.004) and Latinos (OR = 4.83, 95% CI: 1.83 to 12.8, P = 0.001) to perceive access to dermatology care.Limitations: Response bias, sampling bias, generalizabilityConclusions: Ethnic groups differ in knowledge of sun protection and self-perceived skin cancer risk. The Latino community showed discrepancies between sun protection knowledge and practices, serving as an interventional target.