Investigating Skin Cancer Risk and Sun Safety Practices Among LGBTQ+ Communities in Canada
Background: Skin cancer prevention relies on effective sun safety practices. Previous studies have shown that LGBTQ+ individuals exhibit lower sunscreen use and higher tanning bed usage compared to their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts. This study is the first to assess skin cancer risk factors, sun-protect...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Current Oncology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/31/12/593 |
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| author | François Lagacé Farhan Mahmood Santina Conte Lorena A. Mija Amina Moustaqim-Barrette Jonathan LeBeau Alyson McKenna Mahan Maazi Johnny Hanna Alexandra Sarah Victoria Kelly Raquel Lazarowitz Elham Rahme Travis J. Hrubeniuk Ellen Sweeney Ivan V. Litvinov |
| author_facet | François Lagacé Farhan Mahmood Santina Conte Lorena A. Mija Amina Moustaqim-Barrette Jonathan LeBeau Alyson McKenna Mahan Maazi Johnny Hanna Alexandra Sarah Victoria Kelly Raquel Lazarowitz Elham Rahme Travis J. Hrubeniuk Ellen Sweeney Ivan V. Litvinov |
| author_sort | François Lagacé |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Skin cancer prevention relies on effective sun safety practices. Previous studies have shown that LGBTQ+ individuals exhibit lower sunscreen use and higher tanning bed usage compared to their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts. This study is the first to assess skin cancer risk factors, sun-protective behaviors, and skin cancer concerns among LGBTQ+ individuals across Canada. Methods: A national survey study was conducted between July 2020 and March 2024 and included LGBTQ+ respondents aged ≥ 16 years who had completed the survey. Responses were summarized using frequency counts/percentages for categorical variables and means/standard deviations for continuous variables. Logistic regression models were used to calculate age- and gender-adjusted odds ratios for subgroup analyses. Results: Of the 700 LGBTQ+ participants included (59.3% women; median age 38 years), the majority had a Fitzpatrick skin phototype (FSP) I–III (76.4%). Concerningly, 60% reported >10 lifetime sunburns, 58% reported ≥1 blistering sunburn, 34% had used a tanning bed ≥1 time in their lifetime, and 69% reported having a tan in the last 12 months. Sunscreen was worn regularly by only half of the respondents, and half of the participants agreed or strongly agreed with “I look better and/or healthier with a tan”. Additional comparisons are presented based on gender, FSP, education, and income. Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the need for public health campaigns tailored to the LGBTQ+ community, emphasizing culturally sensitive sun safety education, particularly for LGBTQ+ men, individuals with FSP IV–VI, and those with lower education levels, to help reduce future skin cancer risk. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-062dc2d621b54b06a010fa6d5df5cc00 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1198-0052 1718-7729 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Current Oncology |
| spelling | doaj-art-062dc2d621b54b06a010fa6d5df5cc002025-08-20T02:00:41ZengMDPI AGCurrent Oncology1198-00521718-77292024-12-0131128039805310.3390/curroncol31120593Investigating Skin Cancer Risk and Sun Safety Practices Among LGBTQ+ Communities in CanadaFrançois Lagacé0Farhan Mahmood1Santina Conte2Lorena A. Mija3Amina Moustaqim-Barrette4Jonathan LeBeau5Alyson McKenna6Mahan Maazi7Johnny Hanna8Alexandra Sarah Victoria Kelly9Raquel Lazarowitz10Elham Rahme11Travis J. Hrubeniuk12Ellen Sweeney13Ivan V. Litvinov14Division of Dermatology, McGill University, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, CanadaDivision of Dermatology, McGill University, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, CanadaDivision of Dermatology, McGill University, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, CanadaFaculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, CanadaFaculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, CanadaFaculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, CanadaFaculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, CanadaFaculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, CanadaFaculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, CanadaFaculty of Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 9A4, CanadaFaculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, CanadaDivision of Clinical Epidemiology, McGill University, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, CanadaManitoba Tomorrow Project, Cancer Care Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0W2, CanadaAtlantic PATH, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, CanadaDivision of Dermatology, McGill University, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, CanadaBackground: Skin cancer prevention relies on effective sun safety practices. Previous studies have shown that LGBTQ+ individuals exhibit lower sunscreen use and higher tanning bed usage compared to their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts. This study is the first to assess skin cancer risk factors, sun-protective behaviors, and skin cancer concerns among LGBTQ+ individuals across Canada. Methods: A national survey study was conducted between July 2020 and March 2024 and included LGBTQ+ respondents aged ≥ 16 years who had completed the survey. Responses were summarized using frequency counts/percentages for categorical variables and means/standard deviations for continuous variables. Logistic regression models were used to calculate age- and gender-adjusted odds ratios for subgroup analyses. Results: Of the 700 LGBTQ+ participants included (59.3% women; median age 38 years), the majority had a Fitzpatrick skin phototype (FSP) I–III (76.4%). Concerningly, 60% reported >10 lifetime sunburns, 58% reported ≥1 blistering sunburn, 34% had used a tanning bed ≥1 time in their lifetime, and 69% reported having a tan in the last 12 months. Sunscreen was worn regularly by only half of the respondents, and half of the participants agreed or strongly agreed with “I look better and/or healthier with a tan”. Additional comparisons are presented based on gender, FSP, education, and income. Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the need for public health campaigns tailored to the LGBTQ+ community, emphasizing culturally sensitive sun safety education, particularly for LGBTQ+ men, individuals with FSP IV–VI, and those with lower education levels, to help reduce future skin cancer risk.https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/31/12/593sun protectionskin cancer riskLGBTQ+ healthsun safetyCanadian health behavior |
| spellingShingle | François Lagacé Farhan Mahmood Santina Conte Lorena A. Mija Amina Moustaqim-Barrette Jonathan LeBeau Alyson McKenna Mahan Maazi Johnny Hanna Alexandra Sarah Victoria Kelly Raquel Lazarowitz Elham Rahme Travis J. Hrubeniuk Ellen Sweeney Ivan V. Litvinov Investigating Skin Cancer Risk and Sun Safety Practices Among LGBTQ+ Communities in Canada Current Oncology sun protection skin cancer risk LGBTQ+ health sun safety Canadian health behavior |
| title | Investigating Skin Cancer Risk and Sun Safety Practices Among LGBTQ+ Communities in Canada |
| title_full | Investigating Skin Cancer Risk and Sun Safety Practices Among LGBTQ+ Communities in Canada |
| title_fullStr | Investigating Skin Cancer Risk and Sun Safety Practices Among LGBTQ+ Communities in Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating Skin Cancer Risk and Sun Safety Practices Among LGBTQ+ Communities in Canada |
| title_short | Investigating Skin Cancer Risk and Sun Safety Practices Among LGBTQ+ Communities in Canada |
| title_sort | investigating skin cancer risk and sun safety practices among lgbtq communities in canada |
| topic | sun protection skin cancer risk LGBTQ+ health sun safety Canadian health behavior |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/31/12/593 |
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