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Table 2 Risk factors, UV behaviors, and early detection variables

From: Coverage of skin cancer and recreational tanning in North American magazines before and after the landmark 2006 International Agency for Research on Cancer report

Variable

Text description

Image description

Risk factors

  

UV exposure

Mention of UV exposure (solar or artificial) as risk factor for skin cancer

Depiction of someone who has had skin cancer being exposed to UV radiation

Light skin/hair/eyes

Mention of having susceptible phenotype (light colored hair, skin or eyes) as risk factor for skin cancer

Depiction of person who has had skin cancer with susceptible phenotype

Moles

Mention of increased risk of skin cancer with abnormal moles or more than 50 moles

Depiction of numerous or abnormal moles

History of skin cancer

Mention of having personal or family history of skin cancer as a risk factor

Depiction of recurrence of skin cancer or of family members affected by skin cancer

Sunburns

Mention of sunburn as risk factor for skin cancer

Depiction of someone with sunburn, with some connection to skin cancer

UV behaviors

  

Tanned look

Promotes tanned ideal or having a tanned look (a tan is beautiful, sexy, or healthy-looking)

Depiction of a person with tanned skin (i.e., image of person depicted in a favorable way who appears to have skin darkened by UV exposure)

Self-tanners

Promotes use of self-tanners (lotions or sprays applied topically to produce appearance of suntan)

Depiction of self-tanner, of someone applying self-tanner, or having a self-tan

Solar UV avoidance

Promotes sun avoidance

Depiction of a person either not exposed to the sun or without suntan

Discourages indoor tanning

Information discouraging the behavior

Negative depiction of indoor tanning (e.g., picture of a tanning bed with an “x” over it)

Encourages indoor tanning

Information encouraging the behavior (e.g., indoor tanning is good for you/provides vitamin D/prevents sunburns)

Positive depiction of someone indoor tanning (e.g., attractive, healthy-looking person in a tanning bed)

Promotes shade

Promotes seeking shade to avoid UV exposure

Depiction of someone seeking shade

Promotes hats

Promotes wearing a hat to protect the face from UV exposure

Depiction of a hat or of someone wearing a hat

Promotes clothes

Promotes use of protective clothing

Depiction of protective clothing or of someone wearing protective clothing

Promotes sunscreen

Promotes use of sunscreen

Depiction of sunscreen or of someone applying sunscreen

SPF level (30+)

Promotes or mentions SPF level of 30 or higher

Depiction of sunscreen visibly labelled with SPF 30 or higher

Early detection

  

ABCD criteria

Mention and/or description of the ABCD criteria

Depiction of moles which exhibit the ABCD criteria

Skin self-examination

Promotes skin self-checking for skin cancer

Depiction of someone conducting a skin self-examination or example images of dangerous mole characteristics to look for

Physician skin examination

Promotes seeking a physician to do a skin examination for skin cancer

Depiction of someone having a physician-led skin examination conducted

  1. ABCD = asymmetry, border irregularity, color, diameter.