Perceptions of Risk and Responses to Tanning Bed Warning Labels: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Tanning bed use has been linked to increases in skin cancer among young women. Although a causal relationship between ultraviolet radiation emitted by tanning beds and melanoma is well established, it is unclear if tanning bed users are aware of the risk and how they would respond to a warning message. Two hundred and ten women aged 16-29 who had used a tanning bed at least once in the last year were asked about their perceptions of risk and their responses to a warning label. Participants were already aware that tanning beds could cause cancer, but after viewing a warning label, most people said they would stop or reduce their tanning bed use. Reactions to a prototype warning label were encouraging and future research should pursue the possibility that current guidelines for tanning bed warning labels may need to be revised.

Figure 1

Warning label shown to tanning bed users.

Figure 2

Tanning bed users' perspectives on skin cancer.

Figure 3

Tanning bed users' reaction to warning label.