Prevention and screening strategies
A significantly higher percentage of surfers reported using either a chemical and/or physical prevention strategy as compared to swimmers (100% versus 92.7%, respectively; P <.005). With regard to scalp protection, a higher percentage of swimmers utilized a swim cap as opposed to surfers wearing a surf hat (32.7% versus 20.7%, respectively; P <.001). Significantly more surfers (80.2% vs 49.1%, respectively; P <.001) utilized a rashie as opposed to swimmers; however, there were no differences between groups with regards to sunscreen, zinc, and lip balm use, or the reapplication of sunscreen (surfers 44.0% vs swimmers 47.9%).
The majority of each group (surfers 63.8% vs swimmers 72.2%) placed emphasis upon whom conducted the skin examinations with most (surfers 43.9% vs swimmers 54.2%) choosing to see a skin cancer doctor, followed by their GP (Table 2). The majority of participants (surfers 97.4% vs swimmers 100%) were self-referred for their skin cancer screening in the previous year, with less than half of the participants (surfers, 43.3%; swimmers 40.7%) having undergone a skin cancer check within the previous 12 months.