Long-term increase in sunscreen use in an Australian community after a skin cancer prevention trial.
BACKGROUND
Given the public health burden of skin cancer in white populations, an increase in sun protective behavior is needed. In a high-risk community, we assessed long-term sunscreen use among people who had participated in a randomized trial of daily sunscreen application for prevention of skin cancer.


METHODS
In 1992, 1621 residents of the subtropical Australian township of Nambour were randomly allocated to either daily or discretionary sunscreen use until 1996. From 1997 to 2002, we monitored by questionnaires their ongoing sunscreen use.


RESULTS
People who had never or irregularly used sunscreen when in summer sun before the trial were more likely (P < 0.0001) to be sustaining regular application especially to their face (20% vs. 11%) and forearms (14% vs. 5%) if they had been allocated to daily, not discretionary, use of sunscreen for 5 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Regular voluntary sunscreen use for skin cancer prevention can be sustained by sun-sensitive people in the long term. Habit formation appears to be an important goal for sun protection programs among those living, or on vacation, in sunny places.
van der Pols
Jolieke C
JC
Longitudinal Studies Unit, School of Population Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. jvanderpols@uq.edu.au
Williams
Gail M
GM
Neale
Rachel E
RE
Clavarino
Alexandra
A
Green
Adèle C
AC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001315:Australia; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013471:Sunburn / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage
D013473:Sunscreening Agents; D014815:Vitamins; D019207:beta Carotene