Tanning bed users vs. non-users in the california teachers’ study: Characterization of novel at-risk groups

Summary: Abstract Body: UV exposure from indoor tanning is a known carcinogen and major risk factor for cutaneous melanoma. Tanning bed use remains prevalent among women despite these known health risks. Identifying characteristics of tanning bed users can inform the need for more public education to reduce melanoma risk in select groups. Data were collected from the California Teachers Study (CTS), a prospective cohort study of over 133,000 female teachers and administrators followed since 1995. Participants who completed baseline questionnaires and provided tanning bed usage data in Questionnaire 5 (n=60,643) were categorized as tanning bed users (ever-used) or non-users (never-used). Differences between groups were analyzed using Chi-squared tests. Tanning bed users (n=5,929) and non-users (n=54,714) had similar characteristics from baseline questionnaires. Tanning bed use was more common among participants with BMI <25, ≥150 minutes per week of moderate/vigorous physical activity, or used sunscreen for more than a year (p<0.0001). Among tanning bed users with more than 20 years of indoor tanning use, 73% and 61% also reported using sunscreen and facial cream with SPF for over 20 years, respectively. Native Americans (n=376) had the highest proportion of tanning bed use compared to other racial groups. CTS tanning bed users reported higher participation in health-conscious behaviors such as moderate/vigorous exercise and sunscreen use. Native American participants had the highest tanning bed usage rates. These findings prompt further research to understand why indoor tanning is more appealing to health-conscious females and why its prevalence may differ among racial groups. Olivia Guidotti¹, Lauren Longo¹, Brian H. Chen², Jennifer Y. Lin³, Soo J. Park⁴ 1. University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, United States. 2. California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States. 3. Department of Dermatology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States. 4. Division of Hematology and Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States. Clinical Research: Epidemiology and Observational Research