RT journal article
T1 Ultraviolet sun exposure and sun protection behaviors in outdoor rock climbers
A1 Gutiérrez Manzanedo, José Vicente
A1 González Montesinos, José Luis
A1 Aguilera Arjona, José
A1 Rodríguez Martínez, Alba
A1 Vaz Pardal, Carmen
A1 España Romero, Vanesa
A1 Rivas Ruiz, Francisco
A1 Blázquez Sánchez, Nuria
A1 De Gálvez Aranda, María Victoria
A1 De Troya Martín, Magdalena
A2 Didáctica de la Educación FísicaPlástica y Musical
K1 Rock climbers
K1 Skin cancer
K1 Sun protection practices
K1 Sunburn
K1 Ultraviolet radiation exposure
AB Background: Overexposure to sunlight and sunburn are the main preventable causes of skin cancer. Outdoor sports are associated with significant levels of sunlight exposure. Aims: We sought to quantify the sun radiation exposure received by outdoor rock climbers and assess their sun exposure habits, sun protection behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge regarding skin cancer. Methods: From April to June 2021, outdoor rock climbers contacted via email completed an online validated self-reported questionnaire on sun related habits, behaviors, attitudes and knowledge. As a pilot trial, ten participants wore a personal dosimeter during two outdoor climbing weekends in May and November 2021. Ambient ultraviolet radiation (UVR) was also recorded. Results: A total of 217 outdoor rock climbers (103 women), mean age 36.8 ± 8.8 years (range 20–70 years) and median climbing practice per week of 8 h (IQR 7.5) were studied. Two in three (65.9%) participants reported at least one sunburn event during the previous rock climbing season. Of the survey respondents, 49.3% reported using sunscreen with SPF ≥ 15, 47% wore sunglasses, and 14.3% indicated they reapplied sunscreen every two hours. The median personal UVR dose measured during the two outdoor climbing weekends analyzed was 5.2 (IQR 1.8) and 8.8 (IQR 1.1) standard erythemal doses, respectively. Conclusions: The high rates of sunburn, the elevated personal UVR measured and the clearly insufficient sun protection practices followed during rock climbing together with unsatisfactory attitudes towards tanning reveal the need to develop explicit sun protection campaigns and educational strategies to reduce the risk of skin cancer among the athletes studied.
PB Springer
SN 1474-905X
YR 2023
FD 2023-10-17
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/31380
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/31380
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 09-may-2026