Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and Cancer Council Queensland researchers will collaborate to conduct a survey to investigate what influences people's sun safety behaviours.
Associate Professor Anna Hawkes, Senior Research Fellow at Cancer Council Queensland, said 400 adults from across Queensland are needed to participate in the sun safety survey.
"Unfortunately Queensland has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world," she said.
"Each year over 2,660 Queenslanders are diagnosed with melanoma and around 133,000 non-melanoma skin cancers, which is more than anywhere else in the world."
Lead investigator, Associate Professor Katherine White of QUT's School of Psychology and Counselling, said the research study had the potential to greatly reduce the incidence of melanoma and the resulting burden of disease in Australia.
"We know that skin cancer is largely preventable by reducing your exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, however we do not fully understand the factors that influence people's decisions about whether to, and how to, be SunSmart," Professor White said.
"Sun exposure and sun safe behaviour may vary depending on where a person lives. We're keen to understand the factors that influence people's sun safety behaviour in rural, coastal and regional areas, and how these might differ from those living in metropolitan areas.
"So that we can get a comprehensive understanding of people's decision making in respect of sun safety, we are really interested to hear from people in regional, remote and rural areas across the state, as well as people living in metropolitan areas.
"Knowledge gained from this study will be used to develop programs to increase sun safety.
"Participation in the study is simple, it requires completing two questionnaires, one week apart. The first questionnaire will take about 20 minutes, with a brief five-minute follow-up questionnaire a week later."
The questionnaires can be completed online or can be mailed to participants. The first 400 participants who complete both questionnaires will receive a $20 gift voucher from a major retailer.
The project is funded by the Australian Research Council. To participate, please visit the study site http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/sun_safety_survey or contact the project manager, Stuart Leske, on 3138 4685 or email s.leske@qut.edu.au.
Media contact: Michaela Ryan, QUT media officer, 07 3138 4494 or michaela.ryan@qut.edu.au
Or Lyndal Bass, Media Manager, Cancer Council Queensland, 07 3634 5372
