Solarium use in Australia, recent trends and context.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the prevalence of solarium use among representative samples of Australian adolescents (12-17 years) and adults (18-69 years).


METHODS
In national surveys conducted in 2003/04 and 2006/07 using equivalent methods, n=11,509 Australian adolescents and adults self-reported their use of solaria.


RESULTS
In 2006/07 10.6% of adults had 'ever' used a solarium, and use was most prevalent among women aged 18 to 24 (17.1%) and 25 to 44 (20.7%). Few adolescents (2.5%) had ever used a solarium. The prevalence of past year use was much lower (0.6% of adolescents, 1.5% of adults) and there was a significant reduction among adults between surveys (OR=0.69, 95% CI=0.52-0.94). Adults' attitudes related to past year solarium use were preference for a suntan (OR=4.68, 95% CI=2.48-8.85); perceived protan attitudes of peers (OR=2.10, 95% CI=1.17-3.77), belief that a suntan looks healthy (OR=1.92, 95% CI=1.09-3.39); and perceiving they have some risk of getting skin cancer (OR=1.69, 95% CI=1.03-2.78).


CONCLUSIONS
Although solarium use in Australia is relatively low, it is highest among young adult women. These data show encouraging downward trends in use, and provide a foundation for monitoring the impact of forthcoming regulatory changes to the solarium industry.
Francis
Kate
K
Problem Gambling Research and Treatment Centre, University of Melbourne, Victoria.
Dobbinson
Suzanne
S
Wakefield
Melanie
M
Girgis
Afaf
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055108:Sunbathing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult