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Note:

All responses refer to usual behaviours from the pre-survey summer when the respondent was out in the sun for more than 15 minutes between the hours of 11am and 3pm. The survey defined: 'sunburn' as when the skin was still sore the next day, 'sun screen' as when a broad spectum 15+ sunscreen (no less) was applied to at least half of all exposed skin, 'wore long sleeves' as wearing a long sleeved shirt, 'wore less clothing' as deliberately wearing less or briefer clothing so as to get some sun on the skin, 'wore sunglasses' as the wearing of sunglasses, 'wore a hat' as wearing a wide-brimmed hat or cap with a flap, 'skin check-past 12 months' as deliberately checking the skin for changes during the past 12 months.

Source:

NSW Health Promotion Survey 1994 (HOIST), Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch, NSW Health Department.

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In 1994, sun-protection behaviour among the NSW adult population was assessed using self-report measures relating to the summer before the survey. Prevalence estimates shown here are a combination of behaviours reported always or often.

Women were much more likely than men to report using a sunscreen and wearing sunglasses when out in the sun between 11 am and 3 pm.

Women were slightly less likely than men to report wearing less clothing to get more sun on the skin.

Men were more likely to report wearing a long- sleeved shirt, wearing long clothes and wearing a hat. However, men were also more likely to report being sunburned on one or more occasion in the previous summer.

Sex differences in sun-protection behaviour revealed in the NSW Health Promotion Survey are similar to those reported by State anti-cancer organisations in Victoria, South Australia and Queensland.