A pilot observational study of environmental summertime health risk behaviour in central Brisbane, Queensland: opportunities to raise sun protection awareness in Australia’s Sunshine State
Article
Article Title | A pilot observational study of environmental summertime health risk behaviour in central Brisbane, Queensland: opportunities to raise sun protection awareness in Australia’s Sunshine State |
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ERA Journal ID | 15283 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Dexter, Ben (Author), King, Rachel (Author), Harrison, Simone L. (Author), Parisi, Alfio V. (Author) and Downs, Nathan J. (Author) |
Journal Title | Photochemistry and Photobiology |
Journal Citation | 95 (2), pp. 650-655 |
Number of Pages | 6 |
Year | 2019 |
Publisher | John Wiley & Sons |
Place of Publication | United States |
ISSN | 0031-8655 |
1751-1097 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1111/php.13011 |
Abstract | Melanoma skin cancer rates in Queensland exceed the national Australian incidence rate, which together with New Zealand are recognised as the world’s highest. Incidence is especially high among younger members of the population. In this study, the sun-protective behaviours of urban Queenslanders (n = 752) going about their day-to-day activities during a mid-week noon time hourly period were observed on a summer’s day in central Brisbane (27.47° S, 153.03° E), Australia. Observed sun protection practices were poor, given the time of year and peak solar noon-period of the study. More individuals (n=249; 33.1%) were seen wearing sunglasses than a hat (n=101; 13.4%). Ninety-three individuals were actively engaging with mobile phones (phone in hand). A further 231 individuals (30.7%) were observed with a mobile phone on them. Opportunities to modify group behaviour based on mobile phone sun protection notifications and to engage with ‘at risk’ members of the Queensland population are considered from the variable co-dependencies examined in this study, including the influence of social group size, observed sun protection and mobile phone use. Our preliminary findings suggest that mobile phones provide an under-utilised opportunity for delivering tailored skin cancer prevention messaging. |
Keywords | skin cancer, Queensland, UV, mobile phone, hats, sunglasses, behaviour |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 420605. Preventative health care |
350505. Occupational and workplace health and safety | |
Public Notes | File reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher/author. |
Byline Affiliations | Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q4y52/a-pilot-observational-study-of-environmental-summertime-health-risk-behaviour-in-central-brisbane-queensland-opportunities-to-raise-sun-protection-awareness-in-australia-s-sunshine-state
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