Sun behavior: exploring the health belief model on skin cancer prevention in Spain

Aim: Skin cancer ranks among the most common types of cancer worldwide, with Spain being one of Europe's high UV radiation exposure nations, heightening the potential for increased skin cancer incidence in the absence of improved sun protection behaviors. Addressing the need for improved sun protection habits, this study focuses on the analysis of the health belief model (HBM) constructs on skin cancer prevention among a high-risk population. This study introduces the innovation of integrating a sunburn measurement unit from the “Practices, Attitudes, and Knowledge related to Sun Exposure” (CHACES) questionnaire into the framework of the HBM, and develops a statistical model to explain health behaviors related to solar photoprotection and skin cancer. Subject and methods: To achieve this, the research team employed the previously validated CHACES epidemiological questionnaire, supplemented with an additional section on HBM variables. This survey was conducted among a total of 496 participants. Results: Findings reveal significant relationships between key variables, highlighting the critical roles of self-efficacy and perceived susceptibility. Participants who hold that avoiding sun exposure is an effective preventive measure against skin cancer are more likely to protect their skin from sunburn, and those with heightened awareness of susceptibility to skin cancer exhibit a greater propensity to adopt preventive measures against sun exposure. Conclusions: These insights provide valuable guidance for the development of health prevention communication plans, which are imperative for enhancing sun-protection practices and mitigating the rising threat of epidemy of skin cancer in industrialized countries.