Awareness, knowledge, and attitudes towards sun protection among patients with melanoma and atypical mole syndrome

Table 2 Sun protection practices in patients with malignant melanoma, those with atypical mole syndrome, and controls

	Patients with a PMH of MM, n = 26	Patients with AMS, n = 47	Control group, n = 48	All participants, n = 121	P value
Do you use sunscreen? n (%)
No	5/26 (19.2)	7/47 (14.9)	5/48 (10.4)	17/121(14)	0.461
Yes	21/26 (80 .8)	40/47 (85.1)	43/48 (89.8)	104/121 (86)
If yes, which SPF sunblock rating do you use? n (%)
< 30	2/26 (7.7)	5/47 (10.6)	9/48 (18.8)	16/121 (13.2)	0.222
≥ 30	7/26 (26.9)	10/47 (21.3)	14/48 (29.2)	31/121 (25.6)
≥ 50	12/26 (46.2)	25/47 (53.2)	20/48 (41.7)	57/121 (47.1)
No sunscreen use	5/26 (19.2)	7/47 (14.9)	5/48 (10.4)	17/121 (14)
How frequently do you use sunscreen? n (%)
Everyday	5/26 (19.2)	6/47 (12.8)	11/48 (22.9)	22/121 (18.2)	0.663
Most days	4/26 (15.4)	13/47 (27.7)	10/48 (20.8)	27/121 (22.3)
Occasionally	11/26 (42.3)	18/47 (38.3)	18/48 (37.5)	47/121 (38.8)
Rarely	1/26 (3.8)	3/47 (6.4)	4/48 (8.3)	8/121 (6.6)
No sunscreen use	5/26 (19.2)	7/47 (14.9)	5/48 (10.4)	17/121 (14)
During which seasons do you apply sunscreen? n (%)
Only during the summer	17/26 (65.4)	37/47 (78.7)	30/48 (62.5)	84/121 (69.4)	0.353
All year-round	4/26 (15.4)	3/47 (6.4)	13/48 (27.1)	20/121 (16.5)
No sunscreen use	5/26 (19.2)	7/47 (14.9)	5/48 (10.4)	17/121 (14)
In which of the following weather conditions do you apply sunscreen? n (%)
Only in direct sunny weather	17/26 (65.4)	38/47 (80.9)	34/48 (70.8)	89/121 (73.6)	0.606
Both sunny and cloudy weather	4/26 (15.4)	2/47 (4.3)	9/48 (18.8)	15/121 (12.4)
No sunscreen use	5/26 (19.2)	7/47 (14.9)	5/48 (10.4)	17/121 (14)
While outdoors, do you reapply sunscreen? n (%)
No	16/26 (61.5)	21/47 (44.7)	33/48 (68.8)	70/121 (57.9)	0.31
Yes	10/26 (38.5)	26/47 (55.3)	15/48 (31.3)	51/121 (42.1)
Do you reapply sunscreen after swimming or perspiring heavily? n (%)
No	14/26 (53.8)	20/47 (42.6)	28/48 (58.3)	62/121 (51.2)	0.139
Yes	12/26 (46.2)	27/47 (57.4)	20/48 (41.7)	59/121 (48.8 )
Wearing UV-protective sunglasses, n (%)
Everyday	13/26 (50)	21/47 (44.7)	12/48 (25)	46/121 (38)	0.303
Most days	5/26 (19.2)	10/47 (21.3)	16/48 (33.3)	31/121 (25.6)
Occasionally	2/26 (7.7)	7/47 (14.9)	13/48 (27.1)	22/121 (18.2)
Rarely	1/26 (3.8)	4/47 (8.5)	4/48 (8.3)	9/121 (7.4)
Never	5/26 (19.2)	5/47 (10.6)	3/48 (6.3)	13/121 (10.7)
Wearing a broad-brimmed hat, n (%)
Everyday	5/26 (19.2)	3/47 (6.4)	3/48 (6.3)	11/121 (9.1)	0.535
Most days	1/26 (3.8)	6/47 (12.8)	6/48 (12.5)	13/121 (10.7)
Occasionally	6/26 (23.1)	14/47 (29.8)	13/48 (27.1)	33/121 (27.3)
Rarely	7/26 (26.9)	13/47 (27.7)	6/48 (12.5)	26/121 (21.5)
Never	7/26 (26.9)	11/47 (23.4)	20/48 (41.7)	38/121 (31.4)
Wearing long-sleeved shirts or long plants made from tight fabric weave, n (%)
Everyday	1/26 (3.8)	2/47 (4.3)	1/48 (2.1)	4/121 (3.3)	0.275
Most days	4/26 (15.4)	11/47 (23.4)	9/48 (18.8)	24/121 (19.8)
Occasionally	7/26 (26.9)	13/47 (27.7)	16/48 (33.3)	36/121 (29.8)
Rarely	5/26 (19.2)	11/47 (23.4)	12/48 (25)	28/121 (23.1)
Never	9/26 (34.6)	10/47 (21.3)	10/48 (20.8)	29/121 (24)
Avoiding the sun during hours of peak sunlight intensity (10:00 am to 16:00 pm), n (%)
Everyday	8/26 (30.8)	9/47 (19.1)	5/48 (10.4)	22/121 (18.2)	0.492
Most days	10/26 (38.5)	20/47 (42.6)	26/48 (54.2)	56/121 (46.3)
Occasionally	4/26 (15.4)	11/47 (23.4)	13/48 (27.1)	28/121 (23.1)
Rarely	4/26 (15.4)	5/47 (10.6)	0/48 (0)	9/121 (7.4)
Never	0/26 (0)	2/47 (4.3)	4/48 (8.3)	6/121 (5)

PMH: Past medical history; MM: Malignant melanoma; AMS: Atypical mole syndrome; UV: Ultraviolet.