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327825
Sun protection behaviour among a lifeguard population


Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Genevieve Baron, MD MSc FRCPc, Departement of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, Public Health Department of Eastern Townships, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
Michael Tibout, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
Stephanie Ines Abbas, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
Valerie Sauve, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
Marie-Christine Gervais, Environmental Health and Toxicology Department, National Public Health Institute of Quebec, Quebec, QC, Canada
Audrey Lavoie, Lifesaving Society of Quebec, Montreal, QC, Canada
Marianne Favreau-Perreault, Environmental Heath Service, Public Health Department of Eastern Townships, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
Objectives : Lifeguards are exposed to intense sunlight for many hours each day and have a relatively high risk of developing skin cancer. No public health interventions had been specifically directed to this population when Pool Cool,  a multicomponent educational and environmental skin cancer prevention program, was implemented in several outdoor swimming sites in Quebec, Canada. This study aims to describe lifeguards’ knowledge, attitudes and sun protection behaviours; and to evaluate the association between Pool Cool, other determinants, and sun protection habits.

Design: A web survey was conducted among 493 lifeguards who had previously participated in a pilot survey regarding Pool Cool.  Sun protection habits were assessed by measuring six behaviours on a 4-point ordinal scale and summarized using a score adapted from previous studies. Demographic characteristics, skin cancer risk factors, knowledge of UV risks, attitudes toward suntanning, social norm, sun protection pool policies, as well as Pool Cool participation, were evaluated and summarized using mean scores when relevant. 

Results: Among the 139 participants (response rate: 28%), mean sun protection behaviour score was 18,5 (SD: 3,5; min.: 8, max.: 24). Pool Cool participation, negative attitudes toward suntanning,  peer sun protection behaviours, sun protection pool policies, were all associated with lifeguards' higher sun protection behaviour scores (all p<0,01) while other determinants were not.  

Conclusion: This study highlights the importance for public health organizations to advocate for sun protection policies and to carry out effective skin cancer prevention programs in aquatic settings.

Learning Areas:

Environmental health sciences
Occupational health and safety

Learning Objectives:
Describe lifeguard’s knowledge, attitudes and behaviours with regards to sun protection. Discuss factors associated with sun protection behaviours among a lifeguard population.

Keyword(s): Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Since 2001, I have been the principal author and co-author of public health research which as been published in peer reviewed journals. My areas of scientific interests have focused on cancer prevention, immunization as well as program evaluation.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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