Validating outdoor workers' self-report of sun protection.
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.
Oh
Sam S
SS
Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, Hardy Tower 119, CA 92182-4162, USA.
Mayer
Joni A
JA
Lewis
Elizabeth C
EC
Slymen
Donald J
DJ
Sallis
James F
JF
Elder
John P
JP
Eckhardt
Laura
L
Achter
April
A
Weinstock
Martin
M
Eichenfield
Lawrence
L
Pichon
Latrice C
LC
Galindo
Gabriel R
GR
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