Prevalence and determinants of Australian adolescents' and adults' weekend sun protection and sunburn, summer 2003-2004.
BACKGROUND
Reducing people's exposure to ultraviolet radiation is the primary strategy for skin cancer prevention.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to provide comprehensive national data on preventive behaviors and risk assessment for Australia.


METHODS
A national survey was conducted in summer 2003-2004. In 8 weekly cross-sectional surveys, adults and adolescents were interviewed about their sun protection and sunburn on the previous summer weekend. Adjustments were made for specific weather and ultraviolet radiation conditions relevant to time and location.


RESULTS
Adolescents were relatively homogeneous in their low compliance with sun protection (significantly less use of hats, covering clothing, shade, and sunglasses than adults) on weekends, and consequently were more likely to be sunburned than adults (25% compared with 18%; odds ratio=1.80, P<.001). Temperature was a significant predictor of sun-protective behaviors and a strong determinant of sunburn, as was ultraviolet radiation for adults' sunburn. Using shade, spending less time outdoors, and, for adults, wearing clothing covering were associated with reduced odds of sunburn.


CONCLUSIONS
The study relied on self-reported behaviors and sunburn.


CONCLUSIONS
Further improvement in Australians' sun-protective behaviors is needed.
Dobbinson
Suzanne
S
Center for Behavioral Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, Australia. Suzanne.Dobbinson@cancervic.org.au
Wakefield
Melanie
M
Hill
David
D
Girgis
Afaf
A
Aitken
Joanne F
JF
Beckmann
Kerri
K
Reeder
Anthony I
AI
Herd
Natalie
N
Fairthorne
Andrew
A
Bowles
Kelly-Ann
KA
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011481:Protective Clothing; D012621:Seasons; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D013471:Sunburn / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014887:Weather
D013473:Sunscreening Agents