Postal workers' occupational and leisure-time sun safety behaviors (United States).
OBJECTIVE
United States Postal Service letter carriers are exposed to long bouts of UVR and thus are vulnerable to skin cancer. While previous studies have shown that occupational sun protection is often deficient, few studies have examined outdoor workers' behavior during leisure time.


METHODS
Subjects (n = 2,660) self-reported widebrim hat and sunscreen use over the past five workdays and past two non-working days using Likert-type scales. Generalized linear mixed models and generalized estimating equations were used to compare hat and sunscreen rates and predictors during occupational and leisure time.


RESULTS
On average, carriers spent 3.9 h outside during workdays and 3.3 h during non-working days. Sunscreen and widebrim hat use during the workday is low and rates of use are significantly lower during non-working days.


CONCLUSIONS
Sun safety interventions for carriers should encourage sun protection at all times when outdoors.
Lewis
Elizabeth C
EC
Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, Hardy Tower 119, San Diego, CA, 92182-4162, USA.
Mayer
Joni A
JA
Slymen
Donald
D
D000328:Adult; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control; D011177:Postal Service; D011481:Protective Clothing; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D014937:Work
D013473:Sunscreening Agents