Donna W Driscoll
Molloy College , USA
Title: Indoor tanning legislation: Shaping policy and nursing practice
Biography
Biography: Donna W Driscoll
Abstract
Legislation exists regulating the use of tanning beds by adolescents, however, the rate at which adolescents use these devices has not been reduced. The purpose of this study was to provide an analysis of indoor tanning bed legislation in the United States specifically related to legal issues and parental consent along with enforcement of current laws. Data were collected via web-based or telephone interview of all 50 states by the investigator. The findings reveal wide variation in legislation related to adolescents’ access to tanning devices and enforcement of violation of legal statutes. Nurses and other health care professionals can play key roles in educating families and adolescents to the dangers from the use of tanning beds along with being role models for proper skin protective behaviors. In addition, nurses should become advocates by supporting legislative efforts that ban tanning salons for all minors with the long term goal of reducing the skin cancer from ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure from the use of tanning salons today.