title: Trends in sun-protection behaviour in Australian adults 2007-2012.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Almost all skin cancers are the result of overexposure to UV radiation and could be prevented by adhering to a number of simple behavioural guidelines to minimise exposure to the sun. The present study examined trends in sun-protection behaviour among adults living in Western Australia, a region with high levels of UV radiation.
  
  
  METHODS
  During five summers from 2008 to 2012, 2076 Western Australian adults participated in annual, cross-sectional telephone surveys that assessed how often they engaged in a range of sun-protection behaviour (seeking shade, staying inside and wearing a hat, protective clothing, sunscreen or sunglasses).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Apart from an increase in sunscreen use and a consistently high use of sunglasses, most sun-protection behaviour remained stable at moderate levels during the 5-year period. Seeking shade, staying inside and wearing a hat were all practised at levels ranging between 'sometimes' and 'usually' on sunny days in summer during peak UV hours, with little to no variability across the survey years. Wearing protective clothing was the least frequent behaviour across all survey years and was significantly lower in the most recent survey year relative to baseline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further efforts are required to encourage greater enactment of sun-protection behaviour, especially on the use of protective clothing and seeking shade during periods of high UV radiation.
authors.affiliation: Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.|Cancer Council Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Severine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.affiliation: Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pettigrew
authors.affiliation: Cancer Council Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Minto
authors.affiliation: Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.|Cancer Council Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Slevin
authors.affiliation: Cancer Council Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strickland
authors.affiliation: Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Chad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jalleh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005135:Eye Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011481:Protective Clothing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012621:Seasons; D013472:Sunlight; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014904:Western Australia; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents
keywords: adult; prevention; protection; skin cancer; sun; trend