BACKGROUND:
Few studies have reported the accuracy of measures used to assess sun-protection practices.
Valid measures are critical to the internal validity and use of skin cancer control research.
OBJECTIVES:
We sought to validate self-reported covering-up practices of pool-goers.
METHODS:
A total of 162 lifeguards and 201 parent/child pairs from 16 pools in 4 metropolitan regions in the United States completed a survey and a 4-day sun-habits diary.
Observations of sun-protective behaviors were conducted on two occasions.
RESULTS:
Agreement between observations and diaries ranged from slight to substantial, with most values in the fair to moderate range.
Highest agreement was observed for parent hat use (kappa = 0.58-0.70). There was no systematic pattern of over- or under-reporting among the 3 study groups.
LIMITATIONS:
Potential reactivity and a relatively affluent sample are limitations.
CONCLUSION:
There was little over-reporting and no systematic bias, which increases confidence in reliance on verbal reports of these behaviors in surveys and intervention research.
2009-04-24
Eng.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Australian Sun and Health Research Laboratory, School of Public Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove Road, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia. d.oriordan [at] qut.edu.au.
J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009 May;60(5):739-44
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