Do outdoor workers know their risk of <scp>NMSC</scp>? Perceptions, beliefs and preventive behaviour among farmers, roofers and gardeners

2019

Acad Dermatol Venereol

Self Cite

Worldwide 2–3 million cases of keratinocyte carcinoma (KC) are diagnosed annually. Sun‐related knowledge is essential for adequate protection against solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR), the main risk factor for KC. The goal was (i) to provide an updated overview of primary prevention against KC including skin cancer‐related knowledge, attitudes and sun protection behaviour (SPB) of outdoor workers, the general population and medical professionals as well as (ii) to evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of sun protection programmes. We conducted a systematic review of articles indexed for MEDLINE on PubMed using selected MeSH terms and keywords related to the studied topic as well as an extensive hand search of publications between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2018. We identified 51 relevant cross‐sectional studies and 22 interventional studies. Sun‐related knowledge and attitude showed substantial differences with some alarming results, including people who had not even heard about skin cancer before. Reported SPB varied enormously between the included studies, with none of the studies providing an overall sufficient SPB in their examined sun protection measures. However, sun protection programmes using new technologies seem to have great potential to increase sun‐related knowledge and SPB. In countries worldwide, particularly in those where KC is not yet a public health issue, UVR protection should be promoted by healthcare institutions and authorities, politicians, cancer foundations and dermatologists to increase awareness as well as SPB and to decrease the worldwide burden of KC.

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Primary prevention of keratinocyte carcinoma among outdoor workers, the general population and medical professionals: a systematic review updated for 2019

Ziehfreund

Schuster

2019

Acad Dermatol Venereol

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“…This cross‐sectional study was approved by the ethics committee of the Medical Faculty of Technical University of Munich. Farmers, gardeners and mountain guides were included as previously shown outdoor professions with significant cumulative UVR exposure . Office workers of a large Munich‐based company served as control group.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Different outdoor professions have different risks – a cross‐sectional study comparing non‐melanoma skin cancer risk among farmers, gardeners and mountain guides

Tizek

Schielein

et al. 2018

Acad Dermatol Venereol

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“…At the same time, several previous studies have shown that among the outdoor professions farmers have one of the highest rates of KC, with poor primary prevention measures taken during work hours . In Bavaria, only a small minority of farmers regularly use sunscreen, wide‐brimmed hats, sunglasses, long‐sleeved clothing or other UVR‐protective measures . While these quantitative studies have documented that adequate primary prevention measures – understood as regularly using sunscreen and wearing a wide‐brimmed hat and a long‐sleeved shirt during work – are not employed, they have failed to expose the underlying reasons for why farmers do not take sun‐protection measures.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Try to make good hay in the shade – it won't work!’ A qualitative interview study on the perspectives of Bavarian farmers regarding primary prevention of skin cancer

Schielein

Wildner³

et al. 2019

Br J Dermatol

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Summary Background Extensive exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is the main risk factor for keratinocyte carcinoma (KC), making outdoor workers, including farmers, a high‐risk population for KC. The use of sun protection is crucial for KC prevention but is not typically implemented by outdoor workers during their daily tasks. Objectives To explore the attitudes of Bavarian farmers regarding sun‐protective measures in their daily work and to understand perceived barriers and unmet needs. Methods Farmers were recruited through the Bavarian Farmers Association in Bavaria, Southern Germany. Qualitative semi structured interviews were conducted with participants between December 2017 and March 2018. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results Twenty farmers (11 women, nine men; nine aged 18–30 years, 11 aged > 60 years) participated. Knowledge and awareness of UVR exposure and KC, perceived individual barriers to implementing sun‐protective measures, individual experiences and farm life‐specific circumstances emerged as key areas influencing the perspectives of farmers regarding the primary prevention of KC. Female farmers tended to take a more positive stance on sun protection, whereas male farmers showed a lower overall interest. Conclusions Knowledge and awareness of KC and UVR exposure is very limited in Bavarian farmers with serious perceived barriers due to the demands of daily agricultural work. Further qualitative studies are needed to identify intervention options that can increase skin cancer awareness and that can successfully overcome real barriers to implementing sun protection.