title: Skin cancer preventative behaviors in state park workers: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Considering the potential for occupational sun exposure among state park workers, the purpose of this pilot study was to identify skin cancer knowledge, health beliefs, self-efficacy, and sun protection behaviors (SPBs) among state park employees.
  
  
  METHODS
  The current study used a cross-sectional survey research design with state park workers in a Southern state. Of the 94 possible employees who could have participated in the study, 87 completed the survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Assessment of the participants' skin cancer knowledge demonstrated an average correct response rate of 68.8 %. While the vast majority (87.4 %) believed that skin cancer is a serious disease, a minority (42.5 %) believed they would develop skin cancer sometime during their lifetime, and even fewer (35.6 %) believed their risk was higher than average. Collectively, workers reported low levels of SPBs. The most commonly reported barriers to sun protection were "inconvenient," "too hot to wear," and "forget to protect." Half of the participants (50.6 %) were highly confident in their ability to wear long pants while in the sun. About the same proportion of participants was highly confident they could wear a wide-brimmed hat (21.8 %) and sunscreen (20.7 %).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on available evidence, a need exists to develop individual and worksite programs and interventions to increase skin cancer prevention behaviors among this occupational group. This data could serve as a baseline to monitor and evaluate the efficacy of these interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Exercise Science and Recreation Management, School of Applied Sciences, University of Mississippi, 215 Turner Center, P.O. Box 1848, Oxford, MS, 38677, USA, vknahar@go.olemiss.edu.
authors.forename: Vinayak K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Nahar
authors.forename: M Allison
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: Javier F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Boyas
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Brodell
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hutcheson
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Kim R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Beason
authors.forename: Martha A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bass
authors.forename: Rizwana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biviji-Sharma
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011481:Protective Clothing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013471:Sunburn / Q000517:prevention & control; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents