Public awareness of skin cancer: results of a large national survey in Ireland

Excerpt

The incidence of skin cancer continues to rise worldwide. Sun exposure, a known risk factor for most skin cancers, is the target of many public education campaigns worldwide. It is believed that by improving public awareness of skin cancer, photoprotection and sun avoidance, we may halt the increasing incidence of skin cancers. However, as eluded to by Murphy [1], public awareness of skin cancer does not lead to improved sun protective measures. A systemic review by Lin et al. found that counseling on sun protective measures in a young cohort can increase sunscreen use, decrease midday sun exposure and decrease the use of indoor tanning devices [2]. A further systemic review by Reinau et al. found improved sun protective behaviour following educational programmes in a cohort of outdoor workers [3]. Overall, the evidence for primary prevention is largely limited to specific settings and population groups. …