Awareness of cancer among adolescents: A study of nine focus groups in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Issue Addressed: One third of cancers are potentially preventable by modifying key risk factors that arise during adolescence. To help inform prevention efforts, we investigated adolescents' understanding of cancer risk factors, symptoms and signs and barriers to help-seeking.

Methods: Nine focus groups were conducted with purposefully sampled, binary-gendered friendship groups of 12 to 17-year-olds.

Inadequate sun protection practices lead to sunburn among New Zealanders.

Nil.

A Photoaging Intervention Delivered to Adolescents in Secondary Schools: A Feasibility Study.

Excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation during adolescence can have a lasting effect on long-term skin cancer risk. Skin cancer prevention interventions for adolescents have been less commonly investigated than those for children and adults. The study objectives were to develop and evaluate the feasibility of a secondary school-based appearance focused intervention, including the development and testing of protocols and instruments, as a resource module that could be efficiently integrated into the secondary school science curriculum.

National Sporting Organisation policies: A health promotion opportunity?

Issue Addressed: The objective was to identify whether National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) have policy documentation on healthy behaviours (smokefree, sun-protection, healthy food/beverages and alcohol) and, for organisations with such documentation, whether this was in-line with current scientific evidence of past best practice in cancer prevention.

Methods: This cross-sectional policy analysis study was performed September to December 2018 in Aotearoa/New Zealand. A content analysis was undertaken using NSO policy documents matched against a framework of key indicators for best practice within health behaviours of interest.

Generating political priority for skin cancer primary prevention: A case study from Aotearoa New Zealand.

Issues Addressed: Skin cancer is highly prevalent but preventable, yet little research has been done on the challenges in generating political priority for skin cancer prevention. This qualitative study aimed to identify the political challenges to, facilitators of, and strategies to strengthen skin cancer prevention. The focus was on the case of Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ): a country with high skin cancer rates, but limited investment in primary prevention.

Erythemal ultraviolet radiation exposure of high school rowers in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Athletes who compete in outdoor sports can receive potentially harmful levels of solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Rowing is a popular outdoor sport that takes place during the peak UVR season. Using electronic dosimeters attached to the shoulder strap of the rower's uniform, this study aimed to quantify the real-time solar UVR exposure experienced by high school rowers during competition.

Effectiveness of Sun Protection Interventions Delivered to Adolescents in a Secondary School Setting: A Systematic Review.

Aim: The aim of this systematic review is to summarise the evidence of the effectiveness of interventions targeted to adolescents (13 to 18 years inclusive) and delivered in a secondary school setting with the purpose of improving sun protection behaviour, reducing ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure, and/or improving physiological outcomes related to UVR exposure (such as erythema or naevi development).

Methods: Peer-reviewed journal articles were identified from seven database searches (Cochrane, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, Medline, PsycInfo, and Web of Science) to January 2020, forward citation searches of relevant articles, and monitoring of WHO INTERSUN UVR list server for recent publications. Relevant articles were collected and critically analysed using the Effective Public Health Practice framework.

Sun protection policies and practices in New Zealand primary schools.

Aim: To assess sun protection policies and practices in New Zealand primary schools.

Methods: Principals at 1,243 schools (62% of eligible primary schools) completed a survey about school: 1) provision of personal and environmental sun protection, 2) sun protection practices.

Results: Virtually all schools (94%) had a sun protection policy/procedure about which their community was informed (96%).

SunSmart news? Traditional media coverage of sun protection issues during springtime in New Zealand.

Issues Addressed: Cutaneous melanomas and keratinocyte carcinomas (nonmelanoma skin cancer) are highly prevalent in New Zealand (NZ), making skin cancer a priority area for cancer control. Spring is an important time for encouraging sun-safety, due to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) levels becoming hazardous. The news media have a potential to play an important role in reminding people and emphasising the importance of sun-safety.

Cancer Mortality, Early Detection and Treatment among Adult New Zealanders: Changes in Perceptions between 2001 and 2014/5.

Background: Beliefs about cancer risk and experience of early detection and treatment can impact on willingness to engage with these initiatives. This study describes changes in perceptions of cancer mortality, early detection and treatment among adult New Zealanders (NZ) between two cross-sectional studies conducted in 2001 and 2014/5. Methods: Data was collected via telephone interviews conducted by trained interviewers in 2001 (231 females and 207 males, 64% response rate) and 2014/5 (588 females and 476 males, 64% response rate).

Knowledge of Evidence-Based Cancer Risk Factors Remains Low Among New Zealand Adults: Findings from Two Cross-Sectional Studies, 2001 and 2015.

Objective: Cancer risk reduction messages are a part of cancer control efforts around the world. The complex reality is that risk factors differ for different types of cancer, making clear communication of desired behavioural changes more difficult. This study aims to describe awareness of risk factors for breast, bowel, cervical, prostate and lung cancer and cutaneous melanoma among New Zealanders in 2014/15 and identify changes in awareness since 2001.

Sunbeds and skin cancer risk: quantifying a baseline estimate of sunbed facilities in South Africa prior to implementation of sunbed regulations.

Introduction: In 2009, ultraviolet-emitting tanning devices, i.e. sunbeds and tanning booths, were officially classified as carcinogenic to human health (Group 1) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Unintended Sunburn: A Potential Target for Sun Protection Messages.

New Zealand (NZ) has the highest melanoma incidence rate in the world. Primary prevention efforts focus on reducing sunburn incidence and increasing sun protective practices in the population. However, sunburn from excessive ultraviolet radiation (UVR) remains common.

'Out of the frying pan, but not into the fire': quantifying commercial cosmetic tanning services in New Zealand to inform endgame regulation.

Aims: In the context of possible regulation, to quantify and describe: (1) indoor tanning businesses in New Zealand; (2) sunbeds available for sale on Trade Me©.

Method: In January 2016, we conducted a national audit of businesses potentially providing sunbed services (solariums, beauty-salons, hairdressers, gyms and fitness centres) to assess the availability and cost of indoor tanning services (sunbeds and spray tanning). In addition, Trade Me©, New Zealand's largest auction site for second-hand goods, was monitored for one year to determine whether ex-commercial sunbeds were being sold in the domestic market.

Sun exposure and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in a community sample: Quantifying the association with electronic dosimeters.

There is uncertainty about the amount of sun exposure required to increase low blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels, a possible disease risk factor. The study aimed to quantify the association between sun exposure and serum 25(OH)D concentrations in a multiethnic community sample (n=502) living in Auckland (37°S) and Dunedin (46°S), New Zealand, aged 18-85 years. They wore electronic ultraviolet dosimeters between March and November (autumn, winter and spring) for 8 weeks to record their sun exposure.

Adolescent sun protection at secondary school athletic sporting events - a misnomer.

Objective: To observe the sun-protective practices of students and staff and related aspects of the physical environment at secondary school athletics days.

Methods: This observational study of 1,225 students and 215 adult supervisors examined the use of sun-protective items (hats, clothing coverage, sunglasses), sunscreen provision and shade.

Results: Sun-protective behaviour was poor with only 3% of students and 25% of adult supervisors wearing a sun-protective hat.

Knowledge and practice of sun protection in schools in South Africa where no national sun protection programme exists.

Interventions in primary schools that increase sun-protective behaviours and decrease ultraviolet radiation exposure, sunburn incidence and skin cancer risk can be effective. SunSmart School Accreditation Programmes (SSAP) are recommended. Prior to SSAP implementation in South Africa, we explored the feasibility of obtaining national baseline information and investigated possible associations between strategies regarding sun protection in schools and students' responses to a questionnaire.

Factors associated with photoprotection by body clothing coverage, particularly in non-summer months, among a New Zealand community sample.

Clothing coverage is important for reducing skin cancer risk, but may also influence vitamin D sufficiency, so associated plausible predictors require investigation. Volunteers (18 to 85 years), with approximately equal numbers by sex and four ethnicity groups, were recruited in cities from two latitude bands: Auckland (36.9°S) and Dunedin (45.

School students' knowledge and understanding of the Global Solar Ultraviolet Index.

Background: The Global Solar Ultraviolet Index (UVI) is a health communication tool used to inform the public about the health risks of excess solar UV radiation and encourage appropriate sun-protection behaviour. Knowledge and understanding of the UVI has been evaluated among adult populations but not among school students.

Objectives: To draw on previously unpublished data from two school-based studies, one in New Zealand (NZ) and the other in South Africa (SA), to investigate and compare students' knowledge of the UVI and, where possible, report their understanding of UVI.

Self-reported skin colour and erythemal sensitivity vs. objectively measured constitutive skin colour in an African population with predominantly dark skin.

Background: Skin colour is an important factor in skin-related diseases. Accurate determination of skin colour is important for disease prevention and supporting healthy sun behaviour, yet such data are lacking for dark skin types.

Methods: Self-perceived, natural skin colour and sun-skin reaction were compared with objectively measured skin colour among an African population with predominantly dark skin.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and depressive symptoms among young adult men and women.

There has been an increased interest in the role of vitamin D in depression; however, there have been few studies conducted in younger population groups. Our aim was to investigate the association between vitamin D status and depressive symptoms in a non-clinical young adult sample living in Dunedin, New Zealand. A cross-sectional sample of 615 young adults completed a questionnaire including demographics and the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D).

Validity and reliability of the munsell soil color charts for assessing human skin color.

Background: Skin pigmentation is a key factor for ultraviolet radiation exposure-related cancers and can make a significant contribution to the patterns of other diseases. For surveys, and to appropriately target cancer control activities, valid and reliable measures of skin color are required.

Methods: Validity and reliability of the Munsell Soil Color Charts were investigated for skin color assessment.

Development of a 15-item scale to measure parental perceptions of their neighborhood.

Socioecological theory suggests that there are a range of influences that affect the physical activity levels of children, including parents' perceptions of the neighborhood. A questionnaire instrument to quantify parental neighborhood perceptions was developed for the Location of Children's Activity in Their Environment study as a potential predictor of children's physical activity. A literature review revealed a lack of appropriate instruments, many containing highly localized items.

Summer weekend sun exposure and sunburn among a New Zealand urban population, 1994-2006.

Aim: To describe summer weekend sun exposure and sunburn experience, 1994-2006, among urban New Zealanders (15-69 years) by sex, age group, skin type and outdoor activity type.

Method: A series of five telephone surveys undertaken in the summers of 1994, 1997, 1999-2000, 2002-3 and 2005-6 provided a sample of 6,195 respondents with usable data from five major cities (Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin). Respondents were administered a Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) questionnaire which sought sociodemographic information, sun exposure, and sunburn experience during the most recent weekend.