Research Article

Determinants of Sailors’ Protective Behaviors in Fishing Spots against the Risks of Sunlight and Skin Cancer: A Qualitative Study in Iran

Table 2

Codes, categories, and subcategories of sailors’ perceptions and experiences of skin cancer and protective behaviors.

CategorySubcategoryCode

Protective behaviorsChange of work timeActivities at night
Fewer activities at the peak time of sunlight
Activities in the evenings
Use of protectivesWearing hats while working
Wearing sunscreen
Wearing long sleeves

Hard personal and familial conditionsLoss of peaceFeeling depressed
Disappointment and loneliness
Misgivings
Weakness
Loss of work and family statusLoss of status in family
Problem earning a living
Loss of healthIncurability of cancer
Injuries caused by cancer
Cancer and death

Social interactionsDemotivation and discouragementUnwillingness to show protective behaviors
Doctors’ prohibition
Ineffectiveness of protective behaviors in preventing skin cancer
RejectionFriends’ criticism
Being humiliated

Poor social supportIssues with livingHigh cost of sunscreen
Priority of earning a living
Family responsibility
Negative attitude to protective behaviorsWearing sunscreen damages skin.
Wearing sunscreen hurts eyes.
Wearing long sleeves in hot weather leads to red skin or blisters.

Feeling of satisfactionFeeling healthy by protective behaviorsFeeling healthy while wearing long sleeves
Feeling healthy with less sun-burned head and neck while wearing veiled hats
Feeling healthy when less exposed to sunlight at the peak time
Preventing the development of disease and lowering costsSaving money and lowering medical costs by timely visits
Lowering costs of sunburns while wearing hats
Hope to be cured by timely visits

Self-careCapability of self-careWearing long sleeves most of the day
Wearing hats and scarves during intense sunshine
Reducing the exposure time to sunlight in most days
Strengthening beliefsAttempts to raise awareness and knowledge of preventing skin cancer
Attempts to gain information in doctor-patient visits in future

FearFear of afflictionFear of positive results
Concerns about skin examination and diagnosis of cancer
Fear of talking about skin cancer
Continuous concernsDisrupted ordinary life due to cancer
Loneliness and isolation due to cancer
Isolation from family and friends
Fear of affliction with skin cancer due to recurrent exposure to sunlight