title: 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.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Statistics and Epidemiology Division, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA. rkwok@rti.org
authors.forename: Richard K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.forename: Martha S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Linet
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chodick
authors.forename: Ruth A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kleinerman
authors.forename: Daryl M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Freedman
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fears
authors.forename: Ruby E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Bruce H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Alexander
mesh_terms: 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