Abstract
Background
Intermittent sun exposure and sunburn are risk factors for skin cancer that mostly occur in recreational/tourist settings. This review assesses the efficacy of skin cancer prevention interventions designed to promote sun-protective behaviors in recreational/tourist settings.
Methods
Systematic review with meta-analyses of controlled trials with outcome measures of sun-protective behaviors and/or sunburn published until January 2011.
Results
Twenty-three studies were included. We found no evidence for the efficacy of current interventions in reducing tanning or promoting protective clothing and seeking shade. Meta-analyses show a small heterogeneous effect for interventions on sun-protective behavior indices. Larger but heterogeneous effects were observed for self-reported sun exposure and sunburns. Modest methodological quality suggests risk of bias. Effective interventions were more likely to stimulate social norms supporting sun-protective behaviors and provide appearance-based information about photoaging illustrated with ultraviolet photographs.
Conclusion
There is weak and inconclusive evidence for the efficacy of interventions in promoting sun-protective behaviors.
Intermittent sun exposure and sunburn are risk factors for skin cancer that mostly occur in recreational/tourist settings. This review assesses the efficacy of skin cancer prevention interventions designed to promote sun-protective behaviors in recreational/tourist settings.
Methods
Systematic review with meta-analyses of controlled trials with outcome measures of sun-protective behaviors and/or sunburn published until January 2011.
Results
Twenty-three studies were included. We found no evidence for the efficacy of current interventions in reducing tanning or promoting protective clothing and seeking shade. Meta-analyses show a small heterogeneous effect for interventions on sun-protective behavior indices. Larger but heterogeneous effects were observed for self-reported sun exposure and sunburns. Modest methodological quality suggests risk of bias. Effective interventions were more likely to stimulate social norms supporting sun-protective behaviors and provide appearance-based information about photoaging illustrated with ultraviolet photographs.
Conclusion
There is weak and inconclusive evidence for the efficacy of interventions in promoting sun-protective behaviors.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages | 224-238 |
Volume | 45 |
No. | 2 |
Specialist publication | Annals of Behavioral Medicine |
Publisher | Springer |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2013 |