• Torres Woolley, Petra G Buettner, and John Lowe.
• Skin Cancer Research Group, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville QLD 4811, Australia. torres.woolley@jcu.edu.au
• Prev Med. 2004 Aug 1; 39 (2): 300-7.

BackgroundIt is important to understand what predicts regular use of sun protection in men susceptible to skin cancer.MethodsA questionnaire survey of men with previous nonmelanoma skin cancer (n = 300) was conducted.ResultsParticipants who typically used sunscreen tended to be younger, have fewer excised skin lesions, work indoors, and have spent most of their life in the tropics. Predictors of wearing a long-sleeved shirt with a wide-brimmed hat were not enjoying sun exposure, not having barriers to using sun protection, having more skin lesions previously excised, working for a company with a mandatory policy of sun protection, attitudes that the benefits of a suntan do not outweigh the risks and that skin cancers cannot be easily treated, and age over 50.ConclusionsMen who adequately protect themselves from the sun and who have better attitudes to sun exposure were more often those with a high level of negative experience with skin cancer. Therefore, the sun protection attitudes and behaviors of some men may only improve after significant sun damage. This study recommends that the use of appropriate sun protective clothing should be made mandatory for all who work outdoors in high-sun-exposure occupations.

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