The Health Promotion Agency (HPA) undertakes the Sun Exposure Survey (SES) every three years. The purpose of this ongoing research is to collect consistent information on attitudes and behaviours towards sun exposure, to facilitate comparison with historical survey data, and to inform future decision making in the sun safety and skin cancer prevention sector. This report provides an overview of findings for the youth sample (13-24 years, combining the teen and younger adult samples) of the 2013 SES.
Methodology
The 2012/13 data collection comprised a total of 1,754 interviews with 1,250 adults and 504 teens. The sample frame was based on Random Digit Dialling (RDD). Quotas were set for broad geographic region, regional council boundary, age group, and gender. The use of RDD allows accurate representation of the geographic area surveyed since calls are scattered across the entire area and responses, therefore, reflect the underlying population characteristics.
The data collection method was Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI). Interviewing was undertaken by Digipoll interviewers who were trained in the questionnaire prior to commencing the work. The interviews were carried out between 21 January and 12 March 2013 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday between the hours of 4:00pm and 8:30pm.