Sun protection

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Current research on sun protection behaviours has been conducted as part of the

• National Sun Smart Survey
• Australian Secondary Schools Alcohol and Drugs Survey (ASSAD)
• Child Health Survey

National Sun Smart Survey

During Summer 2003-04, there is a national sun smart survey data collection process underway. Over an eight week period, a totoal of 4,000 people (1,352 in New South Wales) will be phoned to research their sun protection behaviours. Questions will include weekend sun exposure, incidence of sunburn, protective behaviours such as hat wearing, use of shade and perceptions on having a tan.

Results on the survey are expected March - April 2004.

Australian Secondary Schools Alcohol and Drugs Survey (ASSAD)

The 1999 ASSAD survey results included 7339 students aged 12 - 17 years, and measured patterns of smoking, alcohol consumption, illicit drug use and sun protection behaviours. The results showed that less than half of the secondary school students were practicing adequate sun protection measures. The most commonly reported behaviours among female students were 'wearing sunscreen' (59%), 'wearing sunglasses' (40%), with the least common 'covering up with clothes' (15%). Among males, 'wearing a hat' (58%), 'wearing sunscreen' (45%) were the most popular and 'wearing sunglasses' (24%) and 'most time indoors' (24%) were the least often reported.

Self reported regular use of 15+ sunscreen, wearing sunglasses and hat wearing had all declined among both male and female students compared to previous surveys. Covering up in clothes when out in the sun and use of sunscreen both declined considerably among females between 1993 and 1999. Reports of 'staying in the shade' and 'most time indoors' increased among males over the same period.

Child Health Survey

The NSW Child Health Survey 2001, required parents and carers to identify actions they could take to reduce their childs risk of getting skin cancer. Respondents of children aged 12 months and over were also asked to describe their use of sun protection measures and whether their child had been sunburnt last summer.

Of 1 - 4 year olds, 87% often or always wore a broad brimmed hat, with 87.3% often or always using a sunscreen and 88.8% often or always deliberately wearing protective clothing. For 5 - 12 year olds, 70.6% often or always wore a broad brimmed hat, 86.3% often or always used sunscreen and 79.4% often or always wearing protective clothing.

More than one-third of children (35.6%) aged 1 - 12 years were reported, in the previous summer, to have been sunburnt to the point where their skin was still sore and tender the next day. This proportion was slightly higher among females (37.9%) than males (33.5%).