Sun safety knowledge, practices and attitudes in rural Australian farmers: a cross-sectional study in Western New South Wales
Abstract Background Rates of skin cancer in Australia are amongst the highest in the world, with Western New South Wales (NSW) exhibiting very high prevalence. There is a large proportion of outdoor workers, including farmers, in Western NSW who have high levels of sun exposure and hence are at grea...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10777-x |
| _version_ | 1819327394774777856 |
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| author | Charmaine D’Souza Nikitha Kramadhari Elizabeth Skalkos Tegan Dutton Jannine Bailey |
| author_facet | Charmaine D’Souza Nikitha Kramadhari Elizabeth Skalkos Tegan Dutton Jannine Bailey |
| author_sort | Charmaine D’Souza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Rates of skin cancer in Australia are amongst the highest in the world, with Western New South Wales (NSW) exhibiting very high prevalence. There is a large proportion of outdoor workers, including farmers, in Western NSW who have high levels of sun exposure and hence are at greater risk of developing skin cancer. Aims To characterise the current sun safety practices of farmers in Western NSW and explore their knowledge, attitudes and perceived barriers towards sun safety and its implementation. Methods A cross-sectional survey study was conducted using a self-directed questionnaire. Participants were recruited at field days held in Western NSW and through surveys distributed at general practices, local stores and online. Eligibility criteria were aged 18 years and over and currently working on a farm in the study region. Results Of the 144 participants, 89 (61.8%) were male with a mean age of 49 years. Knowledge of sun safety was relatively high with most questions answered correctly by greater than 80% of participants. Risk of developing skin cancer was underestimated in 58 (40.3%) participants. Of all participants, 89 (62.2%) identified one or more barriers to practicing sun safety. The most common barrier was forgetfulness in 62 (43.4%) participants. The identification of barriers was significantly associated with reduced engagement of sun safety practices (p = 0.009). Conclusions Knowledge of sun safety among farmers was high. There was, however, underestimation of risk of developing skin cancer. Addressing perceived barriers to implementing sun safety could improve sun safety practices in this cohort. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T13:10:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1df10f1249494cd88918ae7879e4374d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T13:10:09Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-1df10f1249494cd88918ae7879e4374d2022-12-21T16:53:53ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582021-04-0121111010.1186/s12889-021-10777-xSun safety knowledge, practices and attitudes in rural Australian farmers: a cross-sectional study in Western New South WalesCharmaine D’Souza0Nikitha Kramadhari1Elizabeth Skalkos2Tegan Dutton3Jannine Bailey4Bathurst Rural Clinical School, School of Medicine, Western Sydney UniversityBathurst Rural Clinical School, School of Medicine, Western Sydney UniversityBathurst Rural Clinical School, School of Medicine, Western Sydney UniversityBathurst Rural Clinical School, School of Medicine, Western Sydney UniversityBathurst Rural Clinical School, School of Medicine, Western Sydney UniversityAbstract Background Rates of skin cancer in Australia are amongst the highest in the world, with Western New South Wales (NSW) exhibiting very high prevalence. There is a large proportion of outdoor workers, including farmers, in Western NSW who have high levels of sun exposure and hence are at greater risk of developing skin cancer. Aims To characterise the current sun safety practices of farmers in Western NSW and explore their knowledge, attitudes and perceived barriers towards sun safety and its implementation. Methods A cross-sectional survey study was conducted using a self-directed questionnaire. Participants were recruited at field days held in Western NSW and through surveys distributed at general practices, local stores and online. Eligibility criteria were aged 18 years and over and currently working on a farm in the study region. Results Of the 144 participants, 89 (61.8%) were male with a mean age of 49 years. Knowledge of sun safety was relatively high with most questions answered correctly by greater than 80% of participants. Risk of developing skin cancer was underestimated in 58 (40.3%) participants. Of all participants, 89 (62.2%) identified one or more barriers to practicing sun safety. The most common barrier was forgetfulness in 62 (43.4%) participants. The identification of barriers was significantly associated with reduced engagement of sun safety practices (p = 0.009). Conclusions Knowledge of sun safety among farmers was high. There was, however, underestimation of risk of developing skin cancer. Addressing perceived barriers to implementing sun safety could improve sun safety practices in this cohort.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10777-xFarmersSun protectionSkin CancerMelanomaOccupational exposure |
| spellingShingle | Charmaine D’Souza Nikitha Kramadhari Elizabeth Skalkos Tegan Dutton Jannine Bailey Sun safety knowledge, practices and attitudes in rural Australian farmers: a cross-sectional study in Western New South Wales BMC Public Health Farmers Sun protection Skin Cancer Melanoma Occupational exposure |
| title | Sun safety knowledge, practices and attitudes in rural Australian farmers: a cross-sectional study in Western New South Wales |
| title_full | Sun safety knowledge, practices and attitudes in rural Australian farmers: a cross-sectional study in Western New South Wales |
| title_fullStr | Sun safety knowledge, practices and attitudes in rural Australian farmers: a cross-sectional study in Western New South Wales |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sun safety knowledge, practices and attitudes in rural Australian farmers: a cross-sectional study in Western New South Wales |
| title_short | Sun safety knowledge, practices and attitudes in rural Australian farmers: a cross-sectional study in Western New South Wales |
| title_sort | sun safety knowledge practices and attitudes in rural australian farmers a cross sectional study in western new south wales |
| topic | Farmers Sun protection Skin Cancer Melanoma Occupational exposure |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10777-x |
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