Targets to promote swimming between the flags among Australian beachgoers

Abstract

Visiting the beach is a popular activity, but the risk of drowning is real. Drownings are preventable, and swimming between the patrol flags can save lives. The aim of this study is to understand the beliefs people hold in relation to this important water safety behaviour. Participants (N= 514; females = 58%) who were residents of/visitors to coastal areas in South-East Queensland, Australia, completed a theory of planned behaviour belief-based questionnaire. The survey was designed to measure behavioural, normative and control beliefs guiding beachgoers' intentions to swim between the patrol flags. Controlling for age, gender and swimming ability, four critical beliefs (along with self-reported swimming ability) were identified as independently predicting intention. Specifically, the benefits of feeling safe and the cost of feeling limited in choice of where to swim, the social approval from partners and the inhibitor belief about better waves being outside the flags predicted intentions to swim between the flags. This study provides an understanding of the beliefs underlying Australian beachgoers' intentions to swim between the patrol flags. Attention to these targeted beliefs may assist in promoting more regular performance of this beach safety behaviour, thereby combating the increasing rates of drownings and surf rescues.

Coastal drowning: A scoping review of burden, risk factors, and prevention strategies

“…Although an important component, it is important to note that increased knowledge or awareness alone does not necessarily lead to changes in safety behaviour [72]. Some studies incorporated health theory and/or behaviour change approaches [51,[73][74][75][76][77][78][79], which are likely to make education efforts more efficacious [80], but many studies provided only ambiguous suggestions for educating the public or increasing awareness. Education efforts that seek to improve knowledge, increase awareness of risk and inform attitudes and beliefs play a central role in a cohesive systems level approach to preventing coastal drowning, however, future research must consider return on investment and if viable, the optimal messages, methods and age at which this education should be delivered.…”

Predicting pool safety habits and intentions of Australian parents and carers for their young children

“…The theory of planned behavior (TPB) 14 is a widely-used decision making model that has been applied to understand health and safety behaviors, including drowning prevention behaviors in general [15][16][17][18][19][20][21] and, specifically, pool safety behaviors of parents. 22 The TPB proposes intention as the proximal predictor of behavior, with intention predicted by attitude (overall evaluations of the behavior), subjective norm (perceived social pressure to perform the behavior), and perceived behavioral control (perceived capacity and autonomy to carry out the behavior), with perceived behavioral control further hypothesised to moderate the intention-behavior relationship.…”

Changing people’s attitudes and beliefs toward driving through floodwaters: Evaluation of a video infographic

“…Although mechanisms exist which can help to understand why individuals may decide to engage in safety compromising behaviours around water (Drobot, Benight, & Gruntfest, 2007;Gissing, Haynes, Coates, & Keys, 2016;Hamilton & Schmidt, 2013Hamilton, White, Wihardjo, & Hyde, 2016;Pearson & Hamilton, 2014;Taylor, 2016), the empirical literature to guide health and safety messages is lacking. Mass media campaigns can produce positive changes or prevent negative changes in health-related behaviours across large populations (Wakefield, Loken, & Hornik, 2010).…”