title: Knowledge, risk perception and behaviours in swimming pool users of Palermo city, Sicily.
abstract: To assess knowledge, risk perception and behaviours of a sample of swimming pool users in Palermo. A total of 498 subjects were interviewed by self-administered anonymous questionnaire including socio-demographic questions, knowledge/risk perception and behaviours. Overall, 289 subjects (58%) had a mean of 1.9 ± 1.2 healthy behaviours. Age older than 30 years (OR=0.46; 95% CI=0.26-0.81), female sex (OR=0.52; 95% CI=0.35-0.76) and a high knowledge score (OR=0.15; 95% CI=0.03-0.69) were significantly associated with having healthy behaviours in both univariate and multivariate analysis. Unhealthy behaviours can be frequently found in swimming pool bathers and, particularly, in some target groups. Public health prevention strategies should be implemented to improve public awareness and information on a safe use of recreational water environments.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Sciences for Health Promotion "G. D'Alessandro" , University of Palermo , Palermo , Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Amodio
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Costantino
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Asciutto
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dino
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maringhini
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mammina
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calamusa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012802:Sicily; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D013551:Swimming Pools; D055815:Young Adult