Victorian farmers’ and other rural outdoor workers’ skin cancer prevention knowledge and practices

Farmers and other rural outdoor workers are a high-risk group for skin cancer. This study aimed to describe the skin cancer prevention knowledge and practices of farmers and other rural outdoor workers in the Wimmera and Gippsland regions of Victoria. In total, 366 farmers and 140 other rural outdoor workers completed questionnaires at agricultural field days. Most respondents believed that they were at risk of developing skin cancer and had high levels of knowledge regarding the issue, yet farmers’ prevention practices were less than optimal (particularly in terms of the low percentages reporting usually or always using sunscreen (21%) and wearing long-sleeved shirts (20%)). A targeted campaign could focus on overcoming the barriers to using sun protection specific to the farming profession (in particular, to encourage farmers and other rural outdoor workers to wear sun protective clothing where it is practical and safe, and to incorporate sunscreen use into their daily routine).