 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
David B. Buller, PhD1, Peter A. Andersen, PhD2, Barbara J. Walkosz, PhD3, Michael D. Scott, PhD4, Gary R. Cutter, PhD1, Mark Dignan, PhD, MPH5, Elizabeth Zarlengo, BA1, and Jenifer H. Voeks, PhD1. (1) The Cooper Institute, 14023 Denver West Parkway, Suite 100, Golden, CO 80401, (720) 216-6610, dbuller@cooperinst.org, (2) School of Communication, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanille Way, San Diego, CA 92182, (3) Department of Communication, University of Colorado, Denver, P.O. Box 173364, Denver, CO 80217, (4) Department of Communication, California State University, Chico, California State University, Chico, Chico, CA 95959, (5) Kentucky Cancer Prevention, Kentucky Prevention Research Program, 2365 Harrodsburg Rd., Suite B100, Lexington, KY 40504
Sun safety programs in the occupational environment are a new and largely tested area of research on health promotion. Go Sun Smart (GSS) is a multi-channel worksite health communication program for workers in an outdoor recreation industry. Its development was guided by diffusion of innovation theory and other theories of persuasive communication. Effectiveness of GSS was evaluated in a group-randomized pretest-posttest controlled design with 26 pair-matched ski areas in western North America serving as worksites. The primary outcomes were sunburning and sun protection behaviors. Pretest surveys were completed by 7,125 employees (37% female; 61% worked mostly outdoors) at the worksites in November and December 2001 at the beginning of the ski season. Posttest surveys of a randomly selected sample of 2,111 pretested employees were conducted by telephone in March-April 2002 at the end of the season. Fewer employees at intervention worksites (32%) reported being sunburned during the winter than at control worksites (41%) and the decline in sunburning from pretest was significantly greater at intervention worksites (-14%) than control worksites (-8%) (OR=1.44, p<.05 without covariates; OR=1.63, p<.05 controlling for gender, pretest sunburns, age, job type, self-efficacy, and attitudes). More employees at intervention worksites (78%) were aware of GSS than at control worksites (30%) (OR=8.27, p<.05). A significant dose-response relationship was observed at intervention worksites between the proportion of GSS materials implemented and reduction in employee sunburning (OR=1.46, p<.05). GSS was effectively implemented in the outdoor recreation worksites, reached employees, and improved employee sun safety by reducing sunburning.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Cancer Prevention, Occupational Health Programs
Related Web page: www.gosunsmart.org
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.