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Tailored sun safety messaging for outdoor workers

Skin cancer rates are rising in Canada, with ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun as the primary cause. Outdoor workers, estimated at 1.5 million in Canada, face heightened risks of skin cancer, eye damage, and heat stress. Current sun safety messages for the general public are ineffective for this group due to feasibility concerns. This study aimed to develop practical, harm-reducing sun safety messages for outdoor workers, using an integrated knowledge translation approach. Key steps included an environmental scan, a needs assessment with stakeholders, expert surveys to tailor messages, and a workshop to assess the feasibility of the messages. The study identified a gap in peer-reviewed literature and emphasized the need for simple, relevant messages to drive action. Tailored messages were developed using a modified Delphi method to build consensus among experts. The study culminated in a knowledge translation plan to disseminate these messages to outdoor workers, employers, and health and safety regulators.

Principal Applicant: Dr. Cheryl Peters (University of Calgary)
Co-Applicants: Nicole Braun (Saskatchewan Cancer Agency); Lindsay Forsman-Phillips (CAREX Canada)
Funding Awarded: $50,000 (Innovation at Work)

Competition Year: 2019 File type: PDF (227 KB) Asset type: Research Research: RS2019-IG10