Journal article

Solarium use in Australia, recent trends and context

K Francis, S Dobbinson, M Wakefield, A Girgis

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health | WILEY-BLACKWELL | Published : 2010

Abstract

Objectives:To describe the prevalence of solarium use among representative samples of Australian adolescents (12-17 years) and adults (18-69 years). Methods: In national surveys conducted in 2003/04 and 2006/07 using equivalent methods, n=1 1,509 Australian adolescents and adults self-reported their use of solaria. Results: In 2006/07 10.6% of adults had ever' used a solarium, and use was most prevalent among women aged 18 to 24 (17.1%) and 25 to 44 (20.7%). Few adolescents (2.5%) had ever used a solarium. The prevalence of past year use was much lower (0.6% of adolescents, 1.5% of adults) and there was a significant reduction among adults between surveys (OR=0.69, 95% 01=0.52-0.94). Adults'..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

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Funding Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the state Cancer Councils, Cancer Council Australia, and Cancer Australia. We acknowledge the work of the national sun protection survey research committee, including Prof. David Hill (chair), Prof. Joanne Aitken, and Dr Anthony Reeder; and also Kelly-Ann Bowles, Andrew Fairthorne and Kris Jamsen for their preliminary analysis of the survey data.