title: Skin cancer prevention campaign aimed at beachgoers on the Costa del Sol (southern Spain).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sunbathing on the beach is one of the main risks for skin cancer.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the summer of 2010, a skin cancer prevention campaign aimed at beachgoers was undertaken on the western Costa del Sol (southern Spain).
  
  
  METHODS
  The campaign took place on beaches during July and August. A multicomponent intervention was conducted by a dermatologist and other healthcare professionals, including: (1) interviews about risk factors and sun protection habits; (2) full skin examination using dermoscopy; (3) health advice plus educational brochure; (4) sunscreen workshop plus free samples; and (5) survey about satisfaction and behavioral intentions. A journalism and health prize was offered to encourage mass media coverage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four hundred and seven beachgoers (56% tourists) were recruited during the campaign, mean age 45 years. Most of the participants reported high-risk sun exposure and revealed high rates of clinically suspicious lesions of skin cancer (8.1%), melanoma (2.9%), actinic keratosis (10.2%), and atypical nevus (7.6%). The campaign was highly appreciated by the participants and followed not only by local but also regional and national media.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Beachgoers are a strategic target to prevent skin cancer. Beaches are also suitable places to develop a skin cancer prevention campaign, allowing direct access to the high-risk population for surveying, health behavior education, and screening. Several keys may be useful to optimize results as the design of a personalized intervention of proven efficacy, provision of a trained healthcare team, and development of an attractive strategy for the mass media.
authors: Agencia Sanitaria Costa del Sol, Marbella, Spain.
authors: Magdalena
authors: M
authors: de Troya-Martín
authors: Nuria
authors: N
authors: Delgado-Sánchez
authors: Nuria
authors: N
authors: Blázquez-Sánchez
authors: Gregorio
authors: G
authors: Ortega-Tudela
authors: Juan Carlos
authors: JC
authors: Toribio-Montero
authors: Maria Lourdes
authors: ML
authors: Jabalera-Mesa
authors: Inmaculada
authors: I
authors: Ríos-Almellones
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Rivas-Ruiz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001493:Bathing Beaches; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D055623:Keratosis, Actinic / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009506:Nevus / Q000473:pathology; D011481:Protective Clothing; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013030:Spain; D013471:Sunburn / Q000517:prevention & control; D013473:Sunscreening Agents; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents