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UK Postal Delivery Workers’ Occupational Sun Safety: Using Behavior Change Theories to Identify Intervention Pathways

Houdmont, Jonathan; Randall, Raymond; Cheyne, Alistair; Davis, Shaun; Evans, Hannah; Faichney, Joanne

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Authors

Raymond Randall

Alistair Cheyne

Shaun Davis

Hannah Evans

Joanne Faichney



Abstract

Postal delivery workers have substantial sun exposure. In the United Kingdom (UK) a high proportion of workers possesses a sun sensitive skin type. This population is at elevated risk for skin cancer, yet uptake of sun safety practices is low. Studies are needed to identify the underlying factors that contribute to the uptake of occupational sun safety practices that may be targeted during behavior change interventions. This study integrated the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Transtheoretical Model’s stages of change (SoC) as guiding frameworks to identify underlying beliefs that influence UK postal delivery workers’ uptake of occupational sun safety practices. Thirty-four workers participated in semi-structured interviews that used the SoC to establish current receptiveness to and adoption of two sun safety practices (using sunscreen of at least sun protection factor (SPF) 30 on exposed skin and wearing a wide-brimmed hat when working outdoors in the summer). Beliefs underlying current practices were elicited in accordance with the TPB and stratified by the SoC. For sunscreen use and wearing a wide-brimmed hat, 64% and 3% of participants were in the action or maintenance SoC, respectively. Behavioral and control beliefs differed by SoC, with those in the earlier stages more likely than those in the latter stages to report negative attitudes to, and difficulty enacting, sun safety practices. Normative beliefs concerning the views of colleagues and employers towards sunscreen were relatively consistent across the SoC. This study highlights the need for tailored and targeted behavior change interventions. The SoC-stratified accounts of the influence of TPB components on behavior provide a basis for bespoke interventions that reflect inter-individual and inter-practice differences in their working mechanisms.

Citation

Houdmont, J., Randall, R., Cheyne, A., Davis, S., Evans, H., & Faichney, J. (2019). UK Postal Delivery Workers’ Occupational Sun Safety: Using Behavior Change Theories to Identify Intervention Pathways. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(19), Article 3712. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16193712

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 28, 2019
Online Publication Date Oct 2, 2019
Publication Date Oct 2, 2019
Deposit Date Oct 4, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Print ISSN 1660-4601
Electronic ISSN 1660-4601
Publisher MDPI
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 16
Issue 19
Article Number 3712
DOI https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16193712
Keywords Postal delivery workers; Theory of Planned Behavior; Transtheoretical Model; Stage of change; Sun safety; Solar radiation
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2747753

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