Public support for the solarium ban in Australia

Abstract

Background: Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world. Solarium use in particular is associated with a significant increase in melanoma risk. Recently, state governments across Australia announced plans to ban commercial solarium use from December 31st 2014. Aim: The present study aimed to examine the perceptions of Australians to the impending ban on commercial solaria. Methods: Participants (N = 488; 388 females, 100 males; mean age = 26.02, SD = 9.95, range = 17-68 years) were recruited through online Facebook advertisements across Australia, South Australian university websites and solarium businesses in South Australia to complete a questionnaire on tanning behaviour and solarium usage. The majority of participants came from South Australia (81% SA; 14% Victoria; 5% from other states/ territories). Results: Among participants, 17% had used a solarium at some point in their life; 4% at least once in the last 4 weeks (range = 1-15 times) and 6% had used one in the last 12 months (range = 1-180 times). Overall, 53% of participants were aware of the impending ban. 414 participants responded to an open-ended question regarding whether they supported the solarium ban. The response to the ban was overwhelmingly positive (77% in support, 11.5% were not in support, 11.5% had no opinion). In relation to post-ban intentions, of participants who had used solaria in the past (n = 82), 35% were not in support of the ban, 12% intended to use privately owned sunbeds and 17% intended to spend a greater amount of time sun tanning. Conclusions: These findings provide a high level of public support for the solarium ban, which will remove a risky source of ultraviolet radiation in Australia. Further steps may be needed to monitor the tanning behaviours of current solarium users post ban and their access to private sunbed use