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Special Issue "Children and Ultraviolet Radiation"

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A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Pediatric Dermatology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 12799

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Olaf Gefeller

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Guest Editor

Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
Interests: epidemiology; biostatistics; melanoma; ultraviolet radiation; UV index; prevention of sun exposure
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Katharina Diehl

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Guest Editor

Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
Interests: mixed methods research; UV-related risk behaviors; (artificial) tanning; health in adolescents
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Overexposure to natural and artificial ultraviolet radiation (UVR) has consistently been identified as carcinogenic for humans. UVR plays an important role in the pathogenesis of various forms of skin cancer, and has been established as their main environmental risk factor. The relationship between sun exposure or exposure to artificial UVR when using tanning beds and the development of skin cancer has received a great deal of attention in the epidemiology and public health literature. Not only adults are heavily exposed to solar and artificial UVR; children and adolescents are also often subject to high UVR exposure. Childhood exposure to UVR has been identified as an especially strong determinant for skin cancer risk in most studies; however, evidence of the effect of UVR exposure in infancy is scarce. Targeted prevention programs for children have therefore been developed and evaluated in several countries to reduce the risk of developing skin cancer later in life. In addition to prevention measures focusing on direct behavioral changes regarding natural UVR, several countries have issued legal restrictions on tanning bed use and banned it for minors.

This Special Issue invites papers on all these aspects of UVR in childhood and adolescence. Papers describing epidemiologic and public health studies on this topic are welcome, but papers describing the design and implementation of targeted prevention programs and initiatives aiming at the reduction of skin cancer risk will also be considered. Not only papers reporting original data from quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods studies, but also systematic reviews and meta-analysis are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Olaf Gefeller
Dr. Katharina Diehl
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

children
adolescents
ultraviolet radiation
tanning
epidemiology
public health
prevention

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Open AccessEditorial

Children and Ultraviolet Radiation

Olaf Gefeller

and

Katharina Diehl

Children 2022, 9(4), 537; https://doi.org/10.3390/children9040537 - 11 Apr 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1470

Abstract

Solar radiation is one of the driving forces for life on earth [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children and Ultraviolet Radiation)

Research

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Open AccessArticle

The Role of the Global Solar UV Index for Sun Protection of Children in German Kindergartens

and

Children 2022, 9(2), 198; https://doi.org/10.3390/children9020198 - 03 Feb 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1898

Abstract

More than twenty-five years ago, the Global Solar UV index (UVI) was introduced as a simple means of visualizing the intensity of ultraviolet radiation and to alert people to the need for sun protection. In our survey, among directors of 436 kindergartens in southern Germany we investigated the level of awareness and knowledge about the UVI as well as the practical consequences for sun protection in kindergartens. Less than half of the directors (n = 208, 47.7%) had ever heard of the UVI, and only a small minority of them (n = 34, 8.7%) used the daily UVI information to adapt sun protective measures in their kindergartens. Detailed knowledge about the UVI was a rarity among the respondents. The proportion of respondents with self-perceived detailed UVI knowledge was five times higher than the actual knowledge assessed by an in-depth structured interview using open-ended questions about the UVI (14.2% vs. 2.8%). No clear relationship between UVI awareness, knowledge, and use and directors’ age and gender was found. The UVI-related variables also showed no association with directors’ knowledge of risk factors for skin cancer and their attitudes towards tanned skin. Overall, the results paint a sobering picture regarding the penetration of the UVI into sun protection policies of German kindergartens. Future public health campaigns should aim to increase the awareness and understanding of the UVI as well as its relevance for sun protection of children. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children and Ultraviolet Radiation)

Open AccessCommunication

Sun Exposure in Pediatric Age: Perspective of Caregivers

Carmo Coelho Gonçalves

and

Nádia Mendes Silva

Children 2021, 8(11), 1019; https://doi.org/10.3390/children8111019 - 06 Nov 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1908

Abstract

Excessive sun exposure during childhood increases the risk of skin cancer. This study characterized the knowledge and attitudes of caregivers regarding exposure and sun protection of children and adolescents. One hundred and ninety-eight caregivers (38.5 ± 8.0 years) who resorted to the consultations of a Pediatrics Service or a Family Health Unit answered a questionnaire. The age of children/adolescents was 6.5 ± 5.1 years. On average, caregivers presented a high level of knowledge regarding exposure and sun protection. One hundred and twenty-six caregivers indicated that they obtained more information about sun protection on social communication, and 66% considered the information provided by healthcare professionals to be enough. One-hundred and fifteen caregivers reported that the child/adolescent was more exposed to the sun after 4 a.m., and 88% reported applying sunscreen on the beach/pool and outdoor activities. Fifty-seven percent of caregivers renewed sunscreen application on the child/adolescent every 2 h, and 94% applied a sun protection factor ≥ 50 in the child/adolescent. There was a significant association (p < 0.001) between education level and caregivers’ self-knowledge about sun protection (the higher the education, the higher the knowledge), and between the knowledge of the hour of sun exposure avoidance and the time when the child/adolescent was more exposed to the sun. This study shows that caregivers are highly knowledgeable about exposure and sun protection in children/adolescents, and their attitudes follow the general recommendations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children and Ultraviolet Radiation)

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Open AccessArticle

Sun Protection and Sunburn in Children Aged 1–10 Years in Germany: Prevalence and Determinants

and

Children 2021, 8(8), 668; https://doi.org/10.3390/children8080668 - 31 Jul 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2025

Abstract

Seeking shade, the use of textile sun protection and sunscreen, and protecting one’s eyes by wearing sunglasses are recommended sun protection measures in children. We aimed to quantify the use of these measures as well as the prevalence of sunburn in children aged 1 to 10 years in Germany and to identify their determinants. Data collected via telephone interviews in a nationwide sample of 554 parents or caregivers in family were analyzed. Use of sunscreen was the most common measure applied (77.8%), while sunglasses were least frequently used (12.5%). The prevalence of sunburn during the past year was 21.8%, and it was positively associated with children’s age. The use of sun protection measures was significantly associated with the age and skin color of the child, while characteristics and tanning behaviors of the caregivers only played a minor role. The use of sun protection measures was higher when caregivers perceived themselves as a role model (Odds Ratio (OR) = 4.33, p < 0.001). Our nationwide data show that there remains a need for the improved use of sun protection measures, especially in children aged 7 to 10 years. In educational material, parents should be encouraged to become positive role models for their children regarding sun protection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children and Ultraviolet Radiation)

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Open AccessArticle

Cluster Randomized Trial: Sun Protection Intervention ‘Clever in Sun and Shade for Preschools’—Effectiveness and Dissemination

Nadja Seidel

Vera Fieber

Eckhard Wilhem Breitbart

Martin Bornhäuser

and

Friederike Stölzel

Children 2021, 8(8), 651; https://doi.org/10.3390/children8080651 - 28 Jul 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1870

Abstract

Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer and UV radiation is one of the main risk factors. Therefore, sun protection, especially in childhood, is strongly recommended. We examined the effectiveness of the ‘Clever in Sun and Shade for Preschools’ program (CLEVER) in promoting sun protection behavior among preschool staff (trial registration: DRKS00023468) and describe its dissemination. Within a cluster randomized trial with 24 preschools (n = 273 staff members) stating a high need for sun protection measures, an educational workshop for preschool staff and a project kit with materials applicable in preschool groups was provided. Staff members of preschools taking part in CLEVER report significantly stronger sun protection behavior to avoid the sun (effect size [ES] 0.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.04 0.71, p < 0.05) and less perceived impediments to avoid the sun (ES −0.56, CI −0.82 −0.17, p < 0.01) after 12 months as well as higher self-efficacy to avoid the sun (ES 1.09, CI 0.39 1.07, p < 0.001) and to use sunscreen (ES 0.71, CI 0.03 0.88, p < 0.05) after 1 month. Compared to the control group, there was no significant effect on sunscreen use and further psychosocial outcomes. The effectiveness of CLEVER may be underrated due to a high drop-out rate. Within three years, an enhanced free-of-charge program kit, including a media-based workshop and materials, had reached over 4000 preschools, i.e., 7.1% of all daycare centers in Germany. The results show that CLEVER can strengthen sun protection, offer high-quality information at low cost, and is easily disseminable. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children and Ultraviolet Radiation)

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Open AccessArticle

Sunbed Use among 11- to 17-Year-Olds and Estimated Number of Commercial Sunbeds in England with Implications for a ‘Buy-Back’ Scheme

and

Children 2021, 8(5), 393; https://doi.org/10.3390/children8050393 - 14 May 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2585

Abstract

Prior to 2011 legislation prohibiting children from using commercial sunbeds, the prevalence of sunbed use in 15- to 17-year-olds in some areas in England was as high as 50%. Despite significant decreases since 2011, children today still practice indoor tanning. We estimated current sunbed use in 11- to 17-year-olds in England, the number of available commercial sunbed units, and the associated cost of a ‘buy-back’ scheme to remove commercial sunbeds under a potential future policy to ban sunbeds. We undertook a calibration approach based on published prevalence rates in English adults and other sources. Internet searches were undertaken to estimate the number of sunbed providers in Greater Manchester, then we extrapolated this to England. Estimated mean prevalence of sunbed use was 0.6% for 11- to 14-year-olds and 2.5% for 15- to 17-year-olds, equating to 62,130 children using sunbeds in England. A predicted 2958 premises and 17,865 sunbeds exist nationally and a ‘buy-back’ scheme would cost approximately GBP 21.7 million. Public health concerns remain greatest for 11- to 17-year-olds who are particularly vulnerable to developing skin cancers after high ultraviolet exposure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children and Ultraviolet Radiation)

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