Sunburn in Australian Men With a History of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer

Torres Woolley, BSc; Petra G. Buettner, PhD; John B. Lowe, DrPH, FAAHB

Objective: To identify predictors of recent sunburn in north Australian men with a history of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). Methods: A survey of men with previous NMSC was conducted (n=300, response rate 62%). Results: Fifty-four percent of participants reported recent sunburn. Predictors identified included younger age, belief that NMSC is caused by childhood sun exposure, belief that sun protection will not help pre vent further NMSC, wearing of casual clothes, and use of shade as the main sun-protection strategy. Conclusion: Health promotion messages should emphasize the importance of sun protection throughout life and the use of stringent sun-protection measures.

Key words: non-melanocytic skin cancer, sunburn, men's health, tropical environment, health promotion
Am J Health Behav 2003;27(3):195-207