Prevalence and determinants of sunburn in Queensland.
OBJECTIVE
Australia records the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world. In response to this, public education campaigns have incorporated messages about reducing sun exposure and avoiding sunburn. This study sought to describe the prevalence of and factors associated with sunburn in Queensland residents.


METHODS
The Queensland Cancer Risk Study was a population-based, cross-sectional survey of 9,298 respondents conducted via computer-assisted telephone interview during 2004. Sunburn prevalence and its association with socio-demographics and skin cancer risk variables were examined.


RESULTS
More than two-thirds (70.4%) of respondents reported at least one episode of sunburn in the past 12 months, and one in 10 respondents reported at least one episode of severe sunburn in the past 12 months. Experiences of sunburn on two or more occasions were reported more frequently by males than females (57.6% versus 46.5%, p<0.001), and by nearly two-thirds (65.8%) of those aged 20-39 years compared to 48.0% of 40-59 year olds, and 26.7% of 60-75 year olds (p<0.001). Episodes of sunburn were strongly associated with being male (OR=2.20 95%CI 1.84-2.63) and being aged 20 to 39 years compared to 60 to 75 years (OR=9.79, 95%CI=7.66-12.50).


CONCLUSIONS
Sunburn remains highly prevalent among Queensland residents particularly among men and in the younger age groups.
Rogers
Carla
C
Viertel Centre for Research in Cancer Control, The Cancer Council Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, Australia.
Kvaskoff
Marina
M
DiSipio
Tracey
T
Youlden
Danny
D
Whiteman
David
D
Eakin
Elizabeth
E
Youl
Philippa H
PH
Aitken
Joanne
J
Fritschi
Lyn
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013471:Sunburn / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult