Solaria use in Queensland, Australia

Aust N Z J Public Health. 2006 Oct;30(5):479-82. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-842x.2006.tb00468.x.

Abstract

Objective: To describe the demographics of solarium users and the correlates of solarium use in Queensland.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 9419 Queensland residents was conducted via an anonymous computer-assisted telephone interview.

Results: Overall, 8.8% of the respondents had ever used a solarium and less than 1% had used a solarium in the previous year. Results indicated that users were more likely to be female and younger than non-users, and less than half of the users signed a consent form, suggesting that they had not been made aware of the associated risks by operators.

Conclusions: The Queensland Cancer Risk Study was one of the first population-based studies to address solarium use in this State and highlights that the use of solariums in Queensland is low in comparison to other countries.

Implications: There is no regulation of compliance with guidelines. It may become necessary to make compliance with the guidelines mandatory to effectively communicate the associated risks.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Commerce / standards*
  • Commerce / statistics & numerical data
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Guidelines as Topic
  • Health Education
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Queensland
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk-Taking*
  • Skin Neoplasms / etiology
  • Skin Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Sunlight* / adverse effects
  • Ultraviolet Rays* / adverse effects