title: Validating outdoor workers' self-report of sun protection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies assessing sun safety behaviors have used validated survey instruments. Using an observational strategy, this study measured the validity of self-report of occupational sun protection behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Postal workers (N = 1,036) self-reported their frequency of protective clothing and sunglasses use during the past 5 workdays on Likert scales ranging from "Never" to "Always". Responses were dichotomized by Always vs. all other responses. Data collectors observed these same behaviors during mail delivery several days before survey administration. Agreement between the two measures was computed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Self-report for all items was significantly related to observed behaviors, with Kappa values in the good to excellent range (Kappas = 0.51-0.83).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For outdoor postal workers, survey items assessing recent occupational use of sun-protective items had high levels of validity.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, Hardy Tower 119, CA 92182-4162, USA.
authors.forename: Sam S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Joni A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Elizabeth C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Donald J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Slymen
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Sallis
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Elder
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eckhardt
authors.forename: April
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Achter
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weinstock
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eichenfield
authors.forename: Latrice C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Pichon
authors.forename: Gabriel R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Galindo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013471:Sunburn / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace