Porter Emma, Rafferty Siobhan, Dolan Michelle, McMahon David, Sheikhi Ali, Field Sinead, Power Evelyn
Department of Dermatology University Hospital Limerick Limerick Ireland.
Irish Skin Foundation Dublin Ireland.
Skin Health Dis. 2023 Jun 8;4(6):e256. doi: 10.1002/ski2.256. eCollection 2024 Dec.
13 000 cases of skin cancer are diagnosed annually in Ireland, with ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure the strongest risk factor. Public health primary prevention campaigns focus on encouraging safe sun protective measures and skin cancer awareness. We designed a novel, digitally-animated hospital-based campaign targeting all aspects of sun-protective behaviour.
To explore the sun-protective attitudes and behaviours of healthcare workers, and the effect of a digital hospital-based campaign on these findings.
This was a cross-sectional prospective observational study involving hospital staff across the six hospitals that form the University of Limerick Hospital Group (ULHG). A two-phase online survey, the first taking place before campaign launch, and the second upon campaign completion. The digital campaign was displayed across all hospital sites from June to September 2021. Surveys comprised questions on sun-related attitudes and behaviours, including the internationally validated Sun Exposure Protection Index (SEPI) questionnaire.
Eight hundred fifty-seven staff members completed survey 1 and 704 completed survey 2; 90% in each were female; 79% were aged 25-54; 71% reported skin types I-III. Best sun-protective habits pre-campaign included sunscreen use and avoiding sunburn, while wearing hats, protective clothing and seeking shade were least adopted. For 177 matched participants, there were small improvements in SEPI scores. SEPI Part 1 scores, reflecting improved risk behaviour, pre-campaign had a median of 11 (IQR 7), and 11 (IQR 6) post campaign. SEPI Part 2 scores, reflecting readiness to adopt sun-protective behaviours, improved from median 7 (IQR 8) to 6 (IQR 6). Post-campaign, small improvements were seen across some individual sun-protective behaviours and attitudes, particularly reducing time spent in the midday sun and on sun-seeking holidays, and improved readiness to seek shade and reduce sunbathing; 79% of all respondents post-campaign ( = 556) reported raised skin cancer awareness, and 65% ( = 458) said it influenced them to discuss sun protection with others.
Positive improvements in attitudes and behaviours related to sun protection were seen following the digital campaign in this population of healthcare workers. These improvements along with increased willingness to discuss sun protection with others, including patients, has the potential to further benefit wider society, and supports future digital health promotion initiatives.
爱尔兰每年确诊13000例皮肤癌病例，紫外线辐射暴露是最强的风险因素。公共卫生初级预防运动侧重于鼓励采取安全的防晒措施并提高对皮肤癌的认识。我们设计了一项新颖的、以数字动画形式呈现的、基于医院的运动，针对防晒行为的各个方面。
探讨医护人员的防晒态度和行为，以及基于数字医院的运动对这些结果的影响。
这是一项横断面前瞻性观察研究，涉及构成利默里克大学医院集团（ULHG）的六家医院的医院工作人员。进行了两阶段的在线调查，第一阶段在运动启动前进行，第二阶段在运动结束后进行。数字运动于2021年6月至9月在所有医院场所展示。调查包括有关与太阳相关的态度和行为的问题，包括经过国际验证的阳光暴露保护指数（SEPI）问卷。
857名工作人员完成了调查1，704名完成了调查2；每次调查中90%为女性；79%年龄在25至54岁之间；71%报告皮肤类型为I-III型。运动前最佳的防晒习惯包括使用防晒霜和避免晒伤，而戴帽子、穿防护服和寻找阴凉处的做法最少被采用。对于177名匹配的参与者，SEPI分数有小幅提高。反映风险行为改善的SEPI第1部分分数，运动前中位数为11（四分位间距7），运动后为11（四分位间距6）。反映采取防晒行为意愿的SEPI第2部分分数，从中位数7（四分位间距8）提高到6（四分位间距6）。运动后，在一些个人防晒行为和态度方面有小幅改善，特别是减少在中午阳光下的时间和在寻求阳光的假期中的时间，以及提高寻找阴凉处和减少日光浴的意愿；运动后所有受访者中有79%（n = 556）报告提高了对皮肤癌的认识，65%（n = 458）表示这促使他们与他人讨论防晒问题。
在这群医护人员中开展数字运动后，与防晒相关的态度和行为有了积极改善。这些改善以及与包括患者在内的其他人讨论防晒的意愿增加，有可能使更广泛的社会进一步受益，并支持未来的数字健康促进倡议。
