Perceptions of the solarium ban in Australia: ‘Fake it, don’t bake it’
Ivanka Prichard A B G , Suzanne Dobbinson C , Carlene Wilson B D , Amanda D. Hutchinson E , Joanne Rayner D and Jen Makin F
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Health Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
B Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, School of Medicine, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
C Cancer Council Victoria, 615 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Vic. 3004, Australia.
D Cancer Council SA, 202 Greenhill Road, Eastwood, SA 5063, Australia.
E School of Psychology, Social Work and Social Policy, University of South Australia, Magill Campus, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
F University of Tasmania, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, 17 Liverpool St, Hobart, Tas. 7000, Australia.
G Corresponding author. Email: ivanka.prichard@flinders.edu.au
Health Promotion Journal of Australia 26(2) 154-158 https://doi.org/10.1071/HE15002
Submitted: 12 January 2015 Accepted: 6 June 2015 Published: 14 July 2015
Abstract
Issue addressed: The causal link between ultraviolet radiation from solarium use and skin cancer is well established. In 2012 and 2013, state governments across Australia announced plans to ban commercial solarium use from 31 December 2014. The present study examined the responses of solarium and non-solarium users to the ban on commercial solariums in Australia.
Methods: Participants (n = 488; 388 females, 100 males; mean age = 26.02, s.d. = 9.95) completed an online questionnaire during the summer prior to the ban relating to solarium usage and their opinions about the ban.
Results: Overall, 49% (n = 237) of participants were aware of the impending ban; 17% (n = 83) had used a solarium at some point in their life. The response to the solarium ban was positive; however, some current solarium users intended post-ban to use privately owned sunbeds and or spend a greater amount of time sun-tanning.
Conclusions: These findings indicate a high level of public support for the solarium ban, which has removed a risky source of ultraviolet radiation in Australia.
So what?: Further steps are now needed to monitor the tanning behaviours of previous solarium users post-ban and their access to private sunbed use and other potentially dangerous methods of tanning (e.g. tanning injections).
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