Sun Protection Behavior in Danish Outdoor Workers Following a Multicomponent Intervention

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Dermatology
• Public Health Interventions

Background:

• Outdoor workers face high ultraviolet radiation exposure, increasing their risk of occupational skin cancer.
• Implementing sun protection measures in this demographic is crucial for mitigating health risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention aimed at enhancing sun protection practices among Danish outdoor workers.

Main Methods:

• A follow-up study involving 237 Danish outdoor workers who completed surveys in 2016/17 and 2020.
• Interventions included education on skin cancer risks, sun protection use, personal dosimetry, and skin examinations.
• Survey data on risk awareness, perceived importance, and use of sun protection were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Overall sun protection use at work significantly increased from 2016/17 to 2020.
• Sunscreen use, in particular, saw a significant rise (37% to 52% for often/always use).
• Increased awareness of occupational skin cancer risk (43% to 63%) and perceived importance of sun protection (69% to 83%) were strongly correlated with improved usage.

Conclusions:

• Multicomponent interventions can effectively improve awareness, perceived importance, and actual use of sun protection in outdoor workers.
• Targeted interventions are vital for reducing occupational skin cancer risks in high-exposure workforces.