title: Sunscreen Increasingly Overshadows Alternative Sun-Protection Strategies.
abstract: The present study assessed perceptions of effective sun-protection strategies among the general public and whether these perceptions have changed in recent years. During five summers from 2007/2008 to 2011/2012, 4217 adolescents and adults living in a region with very high levels of solar UV radiation participated in annual, cross-sectional telephone surveys. Respondents' perceptions of the most effective sun-protection strategy were measured with a single open-ended question. In all survey years, sunscreen was the by far most frequently nominated sun-protection strategy, with an average mention rate of 71.0 %. The tendency to nominate sunscreen increased significantly over the 5-year study period and on average, was more common among adolescents compared to adults (81.6 vs 60.0 %) and females compared to males (73.6 vs 68.3 %). Despite respondents' increasing tendency to nominate sunscreen as the most effective sun-protection strategy, health experts have voiced concerns about flawed application practices. Current sun-protection hierarchies indicate that protective clothing and shade are better options.
authors.affiliation: Western Australian Cancer Prevention Research Unit (WACPRU), School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia. severine.koch@curtin.edu.au.|Cancer Council Western Australia, Bagot Road, Subiaco, WA, 6008, Australia. severine.koch@curtin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Severine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.affiliation: Western Australian Cancer Prevention Research Unit (WACPRU), School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pettigrew
authors.affiliation: Cancer Council Western Australia, Bagot Road, Subiaco, WA, 6008, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strickland
authors.affiliation: Western Australian Cancer Prevention Research Unit (WACPRU), School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia.|Cancer Council Western Australia, Bagot Road, Subiaco, WA, 6008, Australia.
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Slevin
authors.affiliation: Cancer Council Western Australia, Bagot Road, Subiaco, WA, 6008, Australia.
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Minto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011481:Protective Clothing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents
keywords: Prevention; Skin cancer; Strategy; Sun-protection; Sunscreen