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Skin cancer risk behaviours among adolescents in a Sydney metropolitan school
Author(s) -
Summerville Belinda,
Watt Helen M.G.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
health promotion journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.515
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 2201-1617
pISSN - 1036-1073
DOI - 10.1071/he03123
Subject(s) - sunburn , skin cancer , medicine , metropolitan area , sun protection , environmental health , population health , focus group , sun exposure , government (linguistics) , demography , intervention (counseling) , gerontology , psychology , population , cancer , psychiatry , pathology , linguistics , philosophy , dermatology , marketing , sociology , business
Issues addressed The study investigated methods of sun protection used and preferred by Australian adolescents at secondary school, across grades 7 to 12. Method A questionnaire assessed sun‐protective behaviours and preferences for participants from a government co‐educational Sydney metropolitan high school (n=277). Results We found little evidence for differences across secondary school grades, implying that future intervention efforts may not need to be geared to different age groups. Frequent gender differences suggest the need for gender‐specific emphases in campaigns targeting both sexes. Conclusion Our study assessed gender and grade effects on sun‐protective behaviours and preferences, suggesting directions for areas of focus in future health initiatives. Gendered behaviours were reflected in adolescents' preferences for use of sun‐protective methods, with females preferring to use sunscreen and sunglasses, and males preferring to wear hats or using no protection. Average frequency for use of sun‐protective methods fell below ‘usually’ for both males and females on all behaviours. This is of concern, given the harsh Australian climate and risks associated with adolescent sunburn exposure.