Premium
Employee factors associated with interest in improving sun protection in an Australian mining workforce
Author(s) -
Street Tamara D.,
Thomas Drew Leighton
Publication year - 2015
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/he14049
Subject(s) - sun protection , sunburn , environmental health , medicine , skin cancer , workforce , business , political science , cancer , dermatology , law
Background As Australia experiences moderate to extreme levels of ultraviolet radiation from the sun, high participation in sun protection behaviour is required to minimise the risk of developing skin cancer. Understanding factors associated with interest in improving sun protection will enable employers to increase enrolment in sun protection programs. Method A cross‐sectional survey was conducted at mining sites in rural Australia. The survey assessed employee demographics, stages of change and health‐belief model variables, sun protection behaviour, and preferences for improving sun protection. Results Overall, 897 employees participated: 73% were male and 47% were classed as being at high risk of ultraviolet‐related illnesses. Although 24% of high‐risk participants wanted to increase their sun protection practices, only 6% wanted employerprovided sun protection assistance. Marital status and recent experience of sunburn were associated with desire to improve sun protection. Over 50% of the high‐risk participants who did not want to increase their sun protection and did not want assistance were in the pre‐contemplative stage of change. Self‐efficacy was associated with desire to improve sun protection while susceptibility was associated with desire for assistance. Conclusion The use of sun protection behaviours among this sample was low. Many employees at high risk of ultraviolet radiation exposure do not believe their approach to sun protection needs changing.