Rural-urban differences in behaviors to prevent skin cancer: an analysis of the Health Information National Trends Survey.

Background: There is concern that rural residents may be less likely to engage in behaviors to reduce their risk for skin cancer compared with urban residents.

Objectives: First, we sought to determine whether rural residents are less likely to use sunscreen and engage in other skin cancer preventive measures. Second, we sought to determine whether such actions are sufficiently explained by factors known to affect these behaviors or whether such actions are affected by rurality.