Simplified categorization of outdoor activities for male and female U.S. indoor workers-a feasibility study to improve assessment of ultraviolet radiation exposures in epidemiologic study questionnaires.
Skin cancer studies depend on questionnaires to estimate exposure to ultraviolet light and subsequent risk but are limited by recall bias. We investigate the feasibility of developing a short checklist of categories comprising outdoor activities that can improve sun exposure questionnaires for use in epidemiologic studies. We recruited 124 working and retired U.S. radiologic technologists (52% women). Each subject was instructed to complete a daily activity diary, listing main indoor and outdoor activities between 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. during a 7 day period. A total of 4,697 entries were associated with 1408 h (21.1%) of the total 6,944 h spent outdoors. We were able to classify the activities into seven main activity categories: driving, yard work, home-maintenance, walking or performing errands, water activities, other recreational or sports activities and leisure activities or relaxing outside. These activities accounted for more than 94% of time spent outdoors both for working and retired men and women. Our data document the feasibility and guidance for developing a short checklist of outdoor activities for use in epidemiologic questionnaires for estimating sunlight exposures of working and retired indoor workers.
Kwok
Richard K
RK
Statistics and Epidemiology Division, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA. rkwok@rti.org
Linet
Martha S
MS
Chodick
Gabriel
G
Kleinerman
Ruth A
RA
Freedman
Daryl M
DM
Fears
Tom
T
Johnson
Ruby E
RE
Alexander
Bruce H
BH
D000328:Adult; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014481:United States