Exposing the Risk: Identifying Perspectives on Skin Cancer Awareness and Prevention Opportunities Among Hispanic Outdoor Workers.

INTRODUCTION

Hispanics are over-represented in outdoor occupations; therefore they face an elevated risk of skin cancer. However, there is limited research examining these workers' self-risk perceptions and sun-protective behaviors. This study explores Hispanic outdoor workers' knowledge, attitudes, barriers, and facilitators for engaging in sun-protective behaviors to inform a culturally-tailored intervention.

METHODS

We conducted a mixed methods study with Hispanic outdoor workers (n = 25) over 18 years old. Three focus groups were held in-person or virtually. Participants were recruited through community partners, flyers, and referrals. Focus groups were conducted in Spanish, recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using Rapid Qualitative Analysis. We used descriptive statistics to analyze quantitative data.

RESULTS

Most participants were male (88%), 40% completed up to 8th grade education, and 60% were uninsured. Results revealed four key themes: skin cancer awareness, risk perception, risk-reduction strategies, and barriers/facilitators for risk-reduction behaviors. Participants reported daily sun exposure ranging from 3 to 10 h, often with limited access to shade. Sunglasses (57.1%) and long sleeves (52.4%) were commonly used, while sunscreen use remained low (19.0%) due to discomfort, stigma, and limited knowledge. Many participants (20%) never took protective measures and expressed uncertainty about their skin cancer risk (40%). Despite these challenges, participants showed significant interest in learning more about sun protection.

DISCUSSION

Our findings suggest that Hispanic outdoor workers have limited knowledge and low perceived skin cancer risk. This study highlights the need for tailored educational initiatives to address skin cancer prevention for Hispanic outdoor workers.