Prevalence of tanning equipment use among Canadians

Sami S Qutob; James P McNamee; Orly Brion

doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101356

Prevalence of tanning equipment use among Canadians

Prev Med Rep. 2021 Mar 11:22:101356. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101356. eCollection 2021 Jun.

Authors

Sami S Qutob¹, James P McNamee¹, Orly Brion²

Affiliations

¹ Consumer and Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Effects and Assessment Division at Health Canada, Canada.
² Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Population Studies Division at Health Canada, Canada.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to collect prevalence estimates of indoor tanning usage and associated injuries in Canada. The rapid response component of the 2019 Canadian Community Health Survey collected data on the use of tanning equipment in the previous 12 months, including reasons for use, frequency/duration of use, precautions taken and adverse reactions or injuries. The 2019 research findings were as follows, an estimated 3.0% (95% CI: 2.5-3.4%) of Canadians reported that they had used indoor tanning equipment in the past year. Among users, 71.1% (95% CI: 63.9-78.3%) were female and females aged 18-34 were significantly more prevalent users compared to females aged 45 or older. The prevalence of indoor tanning was higher among people without a university degree; however, there were no differences in prevalence by household income or region. Most users indicated they used indoor tanning equipment within a tanning salon (75.3%: 95% CI: 69.1-81.6%) and the most common reason for usage was to develop a "protective" base tan (72.1%: 95% CI: 65.2-78.9%). Over one third (39.2%: 95% CI: 31.1-47.2%) of all users reported 10 or more sessions in the past year. The prevalence of indoor UV tanning usage is declining in Canada. Similar to results in 2014, the majority of users continue to be female, with a large number in the 18 to 34 age group.

Keywords: Eye protection; Injury; Sunbed; Sunburn; Sunlamp; Survey; Tanning bed; Tanning equipment; Ultraviolet radiation; Warning labels; and Indoor tanning.