Sun protection behavior beliefs among adults living in rural United States: A qualitative study in Minnesota.

ABSTRACT: Although skin cancers are considered mostly preventable, more people in the US are diagnosed with skin cancer than all other cancers combined. Sun safety recommendations include wearing sun-protective clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, seeking shade, and using sunscreen. Some evidence exists that sun risk behaviors and skin cancer rates are more frequent among rural than urban US populations, raising questions about underlying factors. We conducted a belief elicitation survey on these four sun protection behaviors among 278 adults (aged 18-60 years) living in rural Minnesota, a state with high sunburn rates and UV-attributable melanoma cases. These qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis, and the identified codes ranked by frequency. Almost all participants emphasized that spendin

SUBMITTER: Jewett P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12431656 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature