Prevalence and determinants of sunburn in Queensland.

ISSUE ADDRESSED: Australia records the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world. In response to this, public education campaigns have incorporated messages about reducing sun exposure and avoiding sunburn. This study sought to describe the prevalence of and factors associated with sunburn in Queensland residents. METHODS: The Queensland Cancer Risk Study was a population-based, cross-sectional survey of 9,298 respondents conducted via computer-assisted telephone interview during 2004. Sunburn prevalence and its association with socio-demographics and skin cancer risk variables were examined. RESULTS: More than two-thirds (70.4%) of respondents reported at least one episode of sunburn in the past 12 months, and one in 10 respondents reported at least one episode of severe sunburn in the past 12 months. Experiences of sunburn on two or more occasions were reported more frequently by males than females (57.6% versus 46.5%, p<0.001), and by nearly two-thirds (65.8%) of those aged 20-39 years compared to 48.0% of 40-59 year olds, and 26.7% of 60-75 year olds (p<0.001). Episodes of sunburn were strongly associated with being male (OR=2.20 95%CI 1.84-2.63) and being aged 20 to 39 years compared to 60 to 75 years (OR=9.79, 95%CI=7.66-12.50). CONCLUSIONS: Sunburn remains highly prevalent among Queensland residents particularly among men and in the younger age groups.

Prevalence and correlates of multiple cancer risk behaviors in an Australian population-based survey: results from the Queensland Cancer Risk Study.

OBJECTIVE: To report on the prevalence, clustering, and correlates of behavioral risk factors for cancer in the Queensland, Australia, population. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The Queensland Cancer Risk Study was a population-based survey of 9419 Queensland residents aged 20-75 years. Information was collected through anonymous computer-assisted telephone interviews between February and November 2004. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, physical inactivity, sun exposure, and inadequate fruit and vegetable intake, weighted by age, gender, and geographic region. RESULTS: The majority of respondents reported between two and four cancer risk behaviors (79.4%). Men, those younger than 59 years and those with lower educational attainment had more than twofold increased odds of reporting multiple cancer risk factors. Marital status and geographic region were moderately associated with cancer risk. Smoking, high levels of alcohol consumption, and sun exposure were associated with up to twofold increased odds of engaging in multiple additional risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified key subgroups of the Queensland population with increased odds of engaging in multiple risk behaviors for cancer, particularly younger men and people with lower educational attainment. Individual behavioral risk factors can also exert a significant impact on the overall risk profile, and this may be a useful consideration for public health campaigns that target key health behaviors.

Rating access to health care: Are there differences according to geographical region?

OBJECTIVE: To report on satisfaction with access to health care in Queensland focussing on regional differences. METHODS: A sub-sample of 4440 respondents with no history of cancer from the Queensland Cancer Risk Study who completed a self-administered questionnaire was used for this study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Perceptions of overall difficulty gaining access to health care and ratings of access to various health care services by region. RESULTS: Queenslanders living outside major cities reported less satisfaction with access to various aspects of health care services. Age was associated with more favourable ratings of health care access. CONCLUSIONS: Despite public health efforts to increase service provision throughout Queensland, health care access is still rated relatively less favourably by Queenslanders in regional and remote parts of the state. IMPLICATIONS: Identifying which services are difficult to access and why will assist public health policy makers in improving health service accessibility.

The Queensland Cancer Risk Study: behavioural risk factor results.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the population prevalence of key cancer risk behaviours in Queensland. METHODS: The Queensland Cancer Risk Study was a population-based survey of 9,419 Queensland residents aged 20-75 years. Information was collected through an anonymous, computer-assisted telephone interview between February and November 2004. Outcome measures included tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, sun-tanning and sunburn, obesity, physical inactivity and poor diet, weighted by age, gender and geographic region. RESULTS: Prevalence of current smoking was 25.2% for males and 20.8% for females and was highest in the 20-39 year age group and in rural/remote areas. Two-thirds of participants regularly drank alcohol; of these, 63% consumed excessive amounts of alcohol. Excessive sun exposure is still a problem; 70% of Queenslanders reported an episode of sunburn and 12% reported attempting to get a suntan in the past year. More than half of the respondents (53.9%) were above the healthy weight range, and 17.1% of males and 18.4% of females were obese. Just over 40% of Queensland adults reported having insufficient levels of physical activity. Fewer than half of the participants met recommended levels of fruit or vegetable consumption. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The majority of Queensland adults exhibit known, modifiable cancer risk behaviours. These results suggest that continuing efforts to reduce the prevalence of these risk factors are warranted. Specifically, significant gains could be made by targeting behaviour change programs at younger Queenslanders (aged 20-39 years), men, and those living in remote/ very remote areas of Queensland.