Skin cancer prevention: the problem, responses, and lessons learned

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Cancer Prevention
• Health Education

Background:

• Skin cancer incidence has significantly increased in the U.S. over the past 30 years.
• Over 1 million new skin cancer cases are diagnosed annually in the United States.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched the National Skin Cancer Prevention Education Program (NSCPEP) in 1994.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address Healthy People 2000 objectives for skin cancer prevention.
• To implement and evaluate primary prevention intervention projects for skin cancer education.
• To discuss a comprehensive, multidimensional public health approach to skin cancer prevention.

Main Methods:

• The NSCPEP employs a multidimensional public health strategy.
• Key components include primary prevention, coalition building, health communication, and surveillance.
• State health departments in Arizona, California, Georgia, Hawaii, and Massachusetts initiated demonstration projects.

Main Results:

• The article highlights the comprehensive approach of the NSCPEP.
• Examples from state demonstration projects illustrate the program's implementation.
• The program integrates various strategies for effective skin cancer prevention education.

Conclusions:

• The NSCPEP provides a robust framework for national skin cancer prevention efforts.
• Multidimensional public health approaches are crucial for addressing rising cancer rates.
• State-level interventions demonstrate the practical application of the NSCPEP's strategies.