) has been poorly studied,[1-5] even though these populations are implicitly at high risk of skin cancer. Pleasure craft captains in the tropics are numerous (160,000 per year http://www.selleckchem.com/products/MS-275.html in Martinique, French West Indies). To prepare a prevention campaign

for this population, current sun-protection behaviors of professional skippers sailing in Martinique and the behavior of their passengers should be explored. From September 2010 to January 2011, 53 consecutive professional pleasure craft skippers in Martinique were interviewed with an anonymous, self-administered, print questionnaire, while in the waiting room of the Maritime Affairs Outpatient-Consultation Health Service, where they are convoked annually for a systematic physical examination. The questionnaire, comprising 32 items, collected the sociodemographic and skin characteristics (phototype in four of the six groups of Fitzpatrick classification, dermatological history). Estimation of their sun-protection knowledge was summarized by regrouping the responses pertaining to the following two questions: “In your opinion, what is the recommended frequency of sunscreen application? Every hour, Every 2 hours, Every 4 hours, Every 8 hours” and “Sunscreen protects against the sun better than clothes. What is your opinion? Yes, No, I don’t know.” Knowledge was considered good,

when both Inhibitor Library questions were answered correctly (“every 2 hours” and “no,”

respectively); intermediate, Celecoxib for one correct response; and poor, for no correct answers. Behavior was assessed by estimations of photoprotection and sunburns; simple sunburn was defined as erythema and severe sunburn as “blisters” or the need for analgesics or medical care. The number of sunburns over the last 6 months and on the last sailing day, coupled with the duration of exposure to sun with appropriate photoprotection (sunscreen or clothing) were compiled. Passengers’ sun-protection behavior observed by the skippers was limited to the existence of sunburns, simple or severe, and the sun-protection methods, if any, used, adapted or not adapted, to their exposure. Fifty-two skippers (45 men and 7 women; mean age: 41 years) completed the questionnaire (1 refused). The majority had been boat captains for >10 years. More than half (56%) of them had never undergone medical screening for skin cancer or nevus monitoring; only one had experienced a previous skin cancer. Skin types were distributed as follows: 10% I and II, 46% III, 31% IV, and 13% V and VI. Among them, 38 and 54% had good or intermediate sun-protection knowledge. Reported sun-protection behavior showed that 75% had had a simple sunburn over the last 6 months and 6% severe sunburn; sunscreen use is detailed in Table 1.