The impact of a skin cancer control education package for outdoor workers.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact of Telecom's "Cover yourself against skin cancer" campaign, which used marketing techniques to promote sun protection behaviour.


METHODS
Quasi-experimental design assessing change from before to after the campaign in intervention versus control groups. The unit of observation was a team of lines staff. Use of hats, shirts and shade were observed and prevailing weather conditions were noted. The major results are based on 525 observations before the campaign and 460 after it.


RESULTS
The campaign led to a significant improvement in shirt use (P = 0.02), and to an improvement in overall protection (P = 0.02). The campaign had no effect on hat use, or on use of shade.


CONCLUSIONS
The "Cover yourself against skin cancer" campaign was demonstrated to be an effective tool for getting outdoor staff to increase their sun protection. The implications for health and safety education are discussed.
Borland
R M
RM
Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria.
Hocking
B
B
Godkin
G A
GA
Gibbs
A F
AF
Hill
D J
DJ
D001315:Australia; D003020:Clothing; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects*