title: Swimming pools and health-related behaviours: results of an Italian multicentre study on showering habits among pool users.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Showering before entering a swimming pool is highly recommended to reduce the risk of biological and chemical contamination. This study evaluated the behaviour of indoor swimming pool users; analysed the variables associated with lack of showering; and assessed awareness of the importance of showering.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data about users of swimming pools located in five different Italian cities. The association between specific variables and the lack of showering was assessed. P < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 4356 questionnaires were analysed. Sixty-five percent of interviewees always showered before entering the pool. The main reason given for pre-swim showering was 'to wash oneself' (50.5%); or 'to get used to the temperature of the water' (44.3%); and 5.2% answered 'for both reasons'. Risk factors significantly associated with lack of showering were: female sex (odds ratio (OR) 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-1.59), age 14-17 years (OR 5.09, 95% CI 3.40-7.64); not reading the swimming pool rules (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.10-1.41); living in Central Italy (OR 3.3, 95% CI 2.65-4.1) or Southern Italy (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.18-1.55); and previous/current attendance of a swimming course (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.48-1.97).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results revealed low compliance with the rule of showering before entering a swimming pool, and little awareness of the preventive role of showering in the hygienic management of swimming pools. There is a need for targeted educational interventions to inform swimming pool users of the reasons for the importance of showering before entering a pool.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological and Translational Sciences, University of Parma, Italy. ira.pasquarella@unipr.it
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pasquarella
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Veronesi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Napoli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Castaldi
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pasquarella
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saccani
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Colucci
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Auxilia
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gallè
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Onofrio
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tafuri
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Signorelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liguori
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001494:Baths / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006184:Habits; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene / Q000592:standards*; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013551:Swimming Pools; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Behaviour; Shower; Survey; Swimming pool