We must be approaching the tanning season … the anti-tanning media chicanery has begun.
Let’s start with a little “connect the dots,” shall we?
Minnesota is home to the Mayo Clinic. Naiara S. Barbosa, MD practices dermatologic oncology over there in Rochester, MN. She and some of her colleagues conducted a mailed survey to assess local Minnesota residents’ knowledge, attitudes and behaviors regarding skin cancer and tanning bed use. Sounds like it would be extremely accurate, right? A mailed survey? Geez Laweez. Probably not at all skewed. FYI: Minnesota is one of the top three states with the highest incidence of skin cancer. This comes as no surprise as the state has a significant number of folks who are of Scandinavian descent. So, combine that and you should expect to get an accurate estimate of melanoma risk? Sure.
Let the games begin.
The survey results report that 55 percent of the younger group and 37 percent of the older group had used a sunbed. Then, they applied something called a “skin cancer risk calculator” which concluded that the prevalence of high risk for melanoma was 18 percent in the younger group and 33 percent in the older group. Okay, so what?
Well, those with high-risk scores were more likely to “perceive” a higher risk for skin cancer. And ipso facto, those who had high-risk scores and also reported tanning use then reported a low likelihood to tan indoors. So what could be wrong with that research? Well, I gave you clues.
Mailed-in questionnaires, high incidence of skin cancer in the state ranked third highest for developing skin cancer. To top it off, Dr. Barbosa stated, “it was nice that having a high risk of skin cancer and a perceived high risk of skin cancer development was associated with less chance of tanning bed use within the next year.”
I have a few questions, Doc. How many times did the survey respondents actually use a tanning bed? Once? Twice? What was the length of the UV sessions and what type of sunlamps were installed in the tanning system? What was the frequency of their outdoor sun exposure? Did they have any hereditary link to skin cancer? Answers to these questions would be important to consider, for sure.
The doctor then tossed in a remark that is typical of researchers: of course, more studies would be needed. Well, I’d say those studies should be based on a lot more than a survey that seems fixed to deliver an expected outcome!
You can count on the ol’ Watchdog to keep you posted.
