Connect
MJA
MJA

Frequency of sunburn in Queensland adults: still a burning issue

Adèle C Green, Louise Marquart, Susan L Clemens, Catherine M Harper and Peter K O’Rourke
Med J Aust 2013; 198 (8): 431-434. || doi: 10.5694/mja12.11499
Published online: 20 May 2013

Abstract

Objective: To assess the current frequency of sunburn, a preventable risk factor for skin cancer, among Queensland adults.

Design and setting: Cross-sectional population-based surveys of 16 473 residents aged ≥ 18 years across Queensland in 2009 and 2010.

Main outcome measures: Proportion of the adult population reporting sunburn (skin reddening lasting 12 hours or more) during the previous weekend, by age, sex and other risk factors.

Results: One in eight men and one in 12 women in Queensland reported being sunburnt on the previous weekend. Age up to 65 years was the strongest predictor of sunburn: eg, people aged 18–24 years were seven times more likely (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 7.35; 95% CI, 5.09–10.62) and those aged 35–44 years were five times more likely (adjusted OR, 5.22) to report sunburn compared with those aged ≥ 65 years. Not having a tertiary education and being in the workforce were also significantly associated with sunburn. Those who had undertaken any physical activity the previous week were more likely to be sunburnt than those who were physically inactive. Sunburn was significantly less likely among people who generally took sun-protective measures in summer. Sunburn was not related to location of residence, socioeconomic disadvantage, skin colour, body weight or current smoking status.

Conclusions: Sunburn remains a public health problem among Queensland residents, especially those under 45 years of age. Sun-safe habits reduce sunburn risk, but advice must be integrated with health promotion messages regarding physical activity to reduce the skin cancer burden while maintaining active wellbeing.

The impact of skin cancer is disproportionately high due to its extraordinarily high incidence in white populations compared with other cancers. In the United States, skin cancer costs an estimated US$2 billion annually.1 In Australia, skin cancers cost more than other major cancers.2 Sunburn, the acute inflammation caused by excessive exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation, is a determinant of all major skin cancers.3 An estimated 1.3 million skin cancer cases were due to excessive sun exposure4 in the US in 2003, and a regional study in Texas calculated the economic impact of sunburn as over US$10 million annually through lost work and treatment costs.5 Sunburn prevalence (at least one sunburn in the past year) in white US adults aged 18–29 years has been constant for a decade at 66%.6 Men, the young and high-income groups appear susceptible.7 In Australia, weekend sunburn prevalence was 9% overall in Victoria in 20028 but in Queensland in 2004, 70% of surveyed residents aged 20–75 years reported sunburn in the past year.9

Sunburn is of crucial public health importance as a key preventable and common risk factor for skin cancer. We assessed frequency of sunburn and associated factors in Queensland in two surveys in 2009 and 2010.

Methods

The Queensland Health Population Epidemiology Unit conducted self-reported health status surveys from January to March 2009 (SRHS 2009) and from October 2009 to February 2010 (SRHS 2010) using computer-assisted telephone interviews10 with approval from the Queensland Health Central Office Human Research Ethics Committee. The target population sourced by random-digit-dialling was Queensland households with a person aged ≥ 18 years (SRHS 2009) or ≥ 16 years (SRHS 2010). From each selected household, one eligible resident was asked to participate. Response rates were calculated as the number of completed interviews expressed as a percentage of the number of eligible persons contacted.

A structured interview using a scripted questionnaire covered demographic and risk factors including sunburn on the previous weekend. Sunburn was defined as any reddening of the skin lasting longer than 12 hours after sun exposure. Other information collected included age, sex, height and weight, education, marital and employment status, fruit and vegetable intake, smoking, general use of sun protection and physical activity based on the Active Australia instrument.11 For analysis, employment status was categorised as employed, retired or student/carer/unemployed; fruit/vegetable consumption as meeting daily recommended levels (≥ 2 serves of fruit and ≥ 5 serves of vegetables);12 smoking as daily or not; and physical activity as none, insufficient (1–4 sessions of walking/moderate/vigorous activity and/or < 150 minutes total, weekly), or sufficient to meet national guidelines13 (≥ 5 sessions for ≥ 150 minutes total, weekly). Statistical Local Areas of residence were classified by the Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia14 (ARIA+), the Socio-Economic Indexes For Areas15 (SEIFA) and geographically (North, Central, South and West Queensland).

Identical variables from the 2009 and 2010 surveys were pooled for adults aged ≥ 18 and weighted by age, sex and Queensland Health Service District distribution using 2008 estimated resident population data for Queensland (Australian Bureau of Statistics, http://www. abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/3235.02008?OpenDocument) to minimise bias due to over- or underrepresentation of any demographic group, and by the number of in-scope people and fixed telephone lines per household to minimise selection bias. Weighted proportions (with 95% confidence intervals) of the population who reported being sunburnt the previous weekend were calculated, stratified by age and sex. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions — adjusting for age (18–24, 25–34, 35–44, 45–54, 55–64, ≥ 65 years), sex, education (bachelor degree or higher, diplomas/certificates/trade, no qualifications) and physical activity — were undertaken to estimate the association between sunburn and risk factors, using Stata SE, version 11.0 (StataCorp).

Results

Response rates were 57% (7537/13 289) and 65% (8938/13 857) in the 2009 and 2010 surveys, respectively. Pooling of the two surveys (results did not differ) provided a total of 16 473 Queensland adults. Of these, 15% lived in North, 20% in Central, 63% in South, and 2% in West Queensland, while 55% lived in major cities, 39% in regional areas and 6% in remote areas, based on census data of the estimated resident population of Queensland. Of the 8150 men, 901 (12.9%, weighted; 95% CI, 11.9%–14.0%) reported being sunburnt the previous weekend, compared with 596 of 8323 women (8.6%, weighted; 95% CI, 7.7%–9.6%) (Box 1). Peak weighted prevalence of 22% (102/459) was among young men aged 18–24 years. There was a clear trend of decreasing sunburn prevalence with increasing age in both sexes (P < 0.001), such that sunburn was least common among participants aged ≥ 65 years (men, 2.2%, weighted [54/1938]; women, 1.8%, weighted [35/1950]) (Box 1).

After adjustment, the strongest predictor of sunburn was youth: people aged 18–24 years were seven times more likely to report being sunburnt than those aged ≥ 65 years, although adults aged 45–64 years were also at significantly higher risk of being sunburnt than those ≥ 65 years (Box 2).

Other sunburn predictors were male sex, not having a tertiary education, and being in the workforce. People who had undertaken physical activity in the previous week, regardless of frequency or duration, were more likely to be sunburnt than those who did not. People who undertook the recommended level of physical activity had twice the odds of sunburn of inactive people, while those who undertook one to four sessions were also at risk (Box 2). Those who generally used sunscreen in summer tended to be less likely to be sunburnt than non-users (adjusted OR, 0.86) (Box 2). Although hat-wearing per se was not associated with sunburn after adjustment for confounding factors (Box 2), those who usually sought shade or wore protective clothing in summer also had significantly lower odds of sunburn than those who did not, and respondents’ most common explanation for sunburn was failure to use clothing or sunscreen protection (SRHS 2010 only; data not shown).

No other factors, including marital status, body weight, smoking, fruit/vegetable consumption, location of residence, socioeconomic status (Box 2) or skin colour (SRHS 2010 only; data not shown) were associated with sunburn.

Discussion

If sunburn in Australia were reduced, decreased rates of skin cancer would follow.3 Queensland has the highest melanoma rates in Australia, and Australia and New Zealand have the highest rates in the world.16 We have shown that around one in 10 Queensland adults report being sunburnt on the weekend in summer. Men were about 50% more likely than women to experience sunburn and adults aged under 65 years were more likely to be sunburnt than those aged 65 years and over. Youngest adults (aged 18–24 years) were sunburnt most often. While people in the workforce and those without tertiary qualifications are more likely to report sunburn than others, this probably reflects sunburn in leisure more than work hours, since weekend sunburn prevalence was assessed. Physical activity was also associated with sunburn.

Our results are broadly consistent with a 2004 Queensland survey showing young age and male sex greatly increase odds of sunburn.9 An earlier analysis of SRHS 2010 data also showed that people engaging in physical activity were more likely to experience sunburn on the previous weekend and during the past year, especially those who undertook ≥ 7 hours of activity per week.17 Sun-safety and physical activity promotion messages must be integrated, acknowledging the importance of both for health and wellbeing.

This study was drawn from adults of all ages across Queensland but excluded households without fixed telephones, and restricted detail was available about timing of physical activity in relation to sunburn. However, we have shown that despite half a century of campaigns, sun protection in Queensland remains far from optimal. Vigilance to avoid sunburn is essential among active adults. Men still are more likely to be sunburnt and need targeted encouragement to practise prevention measures. By experiencing sunburn, often repeatedly,9 Queenslanders are driving their already high risk of skin cancer higher.3 In Victoria, where the SunSmart program originated, prevention programs have recently stalled.8 Redoubled efforts are required through television and other media campaigns to improve sun-protection and ultimately reduce skin cancer.

2 Characteristics of people sunburnt on the previous weekend, showing prevalence distribution and associated odds ratio (OR) of being sunburnt

Characteristic

Proportion sunburnt (95% CI)

Weighted OR* (95% CI)

P

Adjusted OR (95% CI)

P


Age, years

< 0.001

< 0.001

18–24

18.8% (15.7%–22.3%)

11.46 (8.18–16.04)

7.35 (5.09–10.62)

25–34 

15.0% (13.0%–17.2%)

8.74 (6.45–11.85)

5.95 (4.23–8.36)

35–44

12.9% (11.5%–14.5%)

7.36 (5.52–9.83)

5.22 (3.78–7.22)

45–54

10.3% (9.03%–11.6%)

5.67 (4.23–7.60)

4.04 (2.91–5.60)

55–64

6.1% (5.2%–7.1%)

3.20 (2.35–4.36)

2.23 (1.59–3.14)

≥ 65

2.0% (1.5%–2.5%)

1

1

Sex

< 0.001

< 0.001

Female

8.6% (7.7%–9.6%)

1

1

Male

12.9% (11.9%–14.0%)

1.57 (1.34–1.82)

1.47 (1.25–1.72)

Highest level of education

< 0.001

< 0.001

Bachelor degree or higher

9.1% (7.9%–10.6%)

1

1

Diploma/certificate/trade

13.2% (12.0%–14.5%)

1.51 (1.24–1.84)

1.56 (1.27–1.91)

No post-school qualifications

9.2% (8.2%–10.4%)

1.01 (0.82–1.25)

1.28 (1.03–1.61)

Employment status

< 0.001

< 0.001

Employed

13.3% (12.4%–14.3%)

1

1

Retired

2.1% (1.6%–2.6%)

0.14 (0.11–0.18)

0.46 (0.32–0.64)

Student/carer/unemployed

10.2% (8.4%–12.2%)

0.74 (0.59–0.92)

0.71 (0.56–0.91)

Marital status

0.005

0.85

Married/de facto

10.0% (9.3%–10.8%)

1

1

Not married/separated/widow

12.4% (10.9%–14.1%)

1.27 (1.07–1.51)

0.98 (0.81–1.20)

Fruit and vegetable intake§

0.08

0.63

Not meeting recommendations

10.9% (10.2%–11.7%)

1.30 (0.97–1.74)

1.08 (0.79–1.46)

Meeting recommendations

8.6% (6.7%–11.1%)

1

1

Smoking status

< 0.001

0.16

Not a daily smoker

10.2% (9.4%–11.0%)

1

1

Daily smoker

13.7% (11.9%–15.6%)

1.40 (1.17–1.67)

1.15 (0.95–1.39)

Body mass index, kg/m2

0.83

0.22

< 18.5

12.9% (8.2%–19.6%)

1.28 (0.76–2.14)

1.33 (0.76–2.31)

18.5–24.9

10.4% (9.2%–11.6%)

1

1

25–29.9

11.2% (10.0%–12.4%)

1.09 (0.91–1.29)

1.20 (1.00–1.45)

30–39.9

10.8% (9.3%–12.4%)

1.04 (0.85–1.27)

1.24 (1.00–1.53)

≥ 40

10.7% (6.8%–16.4%)

1.04 (0.62–1.72)

1.23 (0.72–2.09)

Physical activity

< 0.001

< 0.001

No physical activity

5.8% (4.4%–7.5%)

1

1

Insufficient time or sessions

10.2% (9.0%–11.5%)

1.85 (1.36–2.53)

1.66 (1.21–2.29)

Sufficient time and sessions

13.6% (12.5%–14.7%)

2.57 (1.90–3.46)

2.13 (1.57–2.89)

Use sunscreen in summer

0.99

0.07

No

10.7% (9.7%–11.8%)

1

1

Yes

10.7% (9.8%–11.7%)

1.00 (0.86–1.16)

0.86 (0.73–1.01)

Wear hat in summer

0.77

0.11

No

10.9% (9.5%–12.6%)

1

1

Yes

10.7% (9.9%–11.5%)

0.97 (0.81–1.16)

1.17 (0.96–1.41)

SEIFA

0.36

0.44

Disadvantaged

10.2% (8.9%–11.7%)

1.05 (0.82–1.35)

1.20 (0.92–1.56)

Quintile 2

11.2% (9.7%–12.8%)

1.16 (0.90–1.50)

1.18 (0.90–1.54)

Quintile 3

10.5% (9.1%–12.0%)

1.08 (0.84–1.39)

1.12 (0.87–1.46)

Quintile 4

12.0% (10.4%–13.9%)

1.26 (0.98–1.63)

1.29 (0.99–1.68)

Advantaged

9.8% (8.2%–11.6%)

1

1

ARIA+

0.47

0.53

Major cities

10.4% (9.4%–11.5%)

1

1

Inner regional

11.8% (10.3%–13.5%)

1.15 (0.95–1.39)

1.16 (0.95–1.42)

Outer regional

10.6% (9.3%–12.1%)

1.02 (0.85–1.22)

1.05 (0.87–1.27)

Remote/very remote

10.2% (8.4%–12.3%)

0.97 (0.76–1.24)

1.01 (0.78–1.31)

Geographical location**

0.15

0.41

North Queensland

10.9% (9.6%–12.5%)

1.04 (0.87–1.24)

1.00 (0.83–1.21)

West Queensland

12.8% (11.2%–14.6%)

1.24 (1.03–1.49)

1.16 (0.95–1.41)

Central Queensland

10.9% (9.5%–12.6%)

1.04 (0.86–1.25)

1.11 (0.91–1.35)

South Queensland

10.6% (9.7%–11.6%)

1

1


ARIA+ = Accessibility/Remoteness Index for Australia.14 SEIFA = Socio-Economic Indexes For Areas.15 * Population-weighted (based on 2008 estimated resident Queensland population, http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/3235.02008?OpenDocument) analyses unadjusted. Population-weighted (based on 2008 estimated resident Queensland population) analyses adjusted for age, sex, physical activity and education level. Reference group. § National Health and Medical Research Council dietary guidelines for Australian adults.12 Department of Health and Ageing national physical activity guidelines for adults.13 ** North Queensland = Cairns and Hinterland, Mackay, Torres Strait Island, Townsville; West Queensland = Cape York, Central West, Mt Isa, South West Queensland; Central Queensland = Central Queensland, Darling Downs/West Moreton and Wide Bay; South Queensland = Sunshine Coast, Metro North, Metro South and Gold Coast.

Received 6 October 2012, accepted 24 February 2013

  • Adèle C Green1
  • Louise Marquart1
  • Susan L Clemens2
  • Catherine M Harper2
  • Peter K O’Rourke1

  • 1 Cancer and Population Studies Group, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, QLD.
  • 2 Population Epidemiology Unit, Queensland Health, Brisbane, QLD.


Correspondence: lynn.green@qimr.edu.au

Competing interests:

Adèle Green has received past project support from L’Oréal Recherche.

  • 1. Hirst NG, Gordon LG, Scuffham PA, Green AC. Lifetime cost-effectiveness of skin cancer prevention through promotion of daily sunscreen use. Value Health 2012; 15: 261-268.
  • 2. Staples MP, Elwood M, Burton RC, et al. Non-melanoma skin cancer in Australia: the 2002 national survey and trends since 1985. Med J Aust 2006; 184: 6-10. <MJA full text>
  • 3. International Agency for Research on Cancer. IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans. Solar and ultraviolet radiation. IARC Monogr Eval Carcinog Risks Hum 2012; 100D: 1-68.
  • 4. Albert MR, Ostheimer KG. The evolution of current medical and popular attitudes toward ultraviolet light exposure: part 3. J Am Acad Dermatol 2003; 49: 1096-1106.
  • 5. Warthan MM, Sewell DS, Marlow RA, et al. The economic impact of acute sunburn. Arch Dermatol 2003; 139: 1003-1006.
  • 6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sunburn and sun protective behaviors among adults aged 18-29 years--United States, 2000-2010. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2012; 61: 317-322.
  • 7. Buller DB, Cokkinides V, Hall HI, et al. Prevalence of sunburn, sun protection, and indoor tanning behaviors among Americans: review from national surveys and case studies of 3 states. J Am Acad Dermatol 2011; 65 (5 Suppl 1): S114-S123.
  • 8. Dobbinson SJ, Wakefield MA, Jamsen KM, et al. Weekend sun protection and sunburn in Australia trends (1987-2002) and association with SunSmart television advertising. Am J Prev Med 2008; 34: 94-101.
  • 9. Rogers C, Kvaskoff M, DiSipio T, et al. Prevalence and determinants of sunburn in Queensland. Health Promot J Austr 2009; 20: 102-106.
  • 10. Queensland Health. Self reported health status 2009–2010: Queensland summary report. Brisbane: Queensland Health, 2011. http://www.health.qld.gov.au/ph/Documents/epi/srhs0910qldsummary.pdf (accessed Feb 2013).
  • 11. Brown WJ, Burton NW, Marshall AL, Miller YD. Reliability and validity of a modified self-administered version of the Active Australia physical activity survey in a sample of mid-age women. Aust N Z J Public Health 2008; 32: 535-541.
  • 12. National Health and Medical Research Council. Dietary guidelines for Australian adults. Canberra: NHMRC, 2003. http://www.nhmrc.gov. au/_files_nhmrc/publications/attachments/n33.pdf (accessed Feb 2013).
  • 13. Department of Health and Ageing. National physical activity guidelines for adults. Canberra: DoHA, 1999. (Publication No. PHY 09.) http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing. nsf/content/BC3101B1FF200CA4CA256F9700 154958/$File/adults_phys.pdf (accessed Feb 2013).
  • 14. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Statistical geography Volume 1 - Australian standard geographical classification (ASGC). Canberra: ABS, 2006. (ABS Cat. No. 1216.0.) http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/allprimarymainfeatures/BD1B52D132D130E7CA 2573630012F67B?opendocument (accessed Feb 2013).
  • 15. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Census of population and housing: Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), Australia - data only, 2006. Canberra: ABS, 2008. (ABS Cat. No. 2033.0. 55.001.) http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/2033.0.55.001Main+Features 12006?OpenDocument (accessed Feb 2013).
  • 16. Erdmann F, Lortet-Tieulent J, Schüz J, et al. International trends in the incidence of malignant melanoma 1953-2008--are recent generations at higher or lower risk? Int J Cancer 2013; 132: 385-400.
  • 17. Jardine A, Bright M, Knight L, et al. Does physical activity increase the risk of unsafe sun exposure? Health Promot J Austr 2012; 23: 52-57.

Author

remove_circle_outline Delete Author
add_circle_outline Add Author

Comment
Do you have any competing interests to declare? *

I/we agree to assign copyright to the Medical Journal of Australia and agree to the Conditions of publication *
I/we agree to the Terms of use of the Medical Journal of Australia *
Email me when people comment on this article

Online responses are no longer available. Please refer to our instructions for authors page for more information.