The first validated tool for measuring sun exposure

July 17, 2016

Abstract

Few questionnaires used in monitoring sun-related behavior have been tested for validity. We established criteria validity of a developed questionnaire for monitoring population sun-related behavior.

During May-August 2013, 664 Danes wore a personal electronic UV-dosimeter for one week that measured the outdoor time and dose of erythemal UVR exposure. In the following week, they answered a questionnaire on their sun-related behavior in the measurement week.

Outdoor time measured by dosimetry correlated strongly with both outdoor time and the developed exposure scale measured in the questionnaire. Exposure measured in SED by dosimetry correlated strongly with the exposure scale. In a linear regression model of UVR (SED) received, 41 percent of the variation was explained by skin type, age, week of participation and the exposure scale, with the exposure scale as the main contributor. The weekly sunburn fraction correlated strongly with the number of ambient sun hours (r=0.73, p<0.001).

This criteria validated questionnaire has provided evidence of the exposure that the questionnaire aimed to measure. The evidence provided showed a strong link between the objectively measured behavior and the behavior measured by this survey construct. The questionnaire is the first validated tool to measure the UV exposure in a national population-based sample.

Source:

Køster, B, et al. The validated sun exposure questionnaire - Association of objective and subjective measures of sun exposure in a Danish population based sample.  British Journal of Dermatology.  DOI: 10.1111/bjd.14861   http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjd.14861/abstract