Enhancing Industry-Based Dissemination of an Occupational Sun Protection Program with Theory-Based Strategies Employing Personal Contact

Abstract

Purpose Industry-based strategies for dissemination of an evidence-based occupational sun protection program, Go Sun Smart (GSS), were tested. Design Two dissemination strategies were compared in a randomized trial in 2004 – 2007. Setting The North American ski industry. Subjects Ski areas in the United States and Canada (n=69) and their senior managers (n=469). Intervention Employers received GSS through a Basic Dissemination Strategy (BDS) from the industry’s professional association which included conference presentations and free starter kits. Half of the areas also received the Enhanced Dissemination Strategy (EDS), in which project staff met face-to-face with managers and made ongoing contacts to support program use. Measures Observation of program materials in use and managers’ reports on communication about sun protection. Analysis The effects of two alternative dissemination strategies were compared on program use using PROC MIXED in SAS, adjusted for covariates using 1-tailed p-values. Results Ski areas receiving the EDS used more GSS materials (M=7.36) than those receiving the BDS (M=5.17; F=7.82, p<.01). Managers from more areas receiving the EDS reported communicating about sun protection in employee newsletters/flyers (M=0.97, p=.04), in guest email messages (M=0.75, p=.02), and on ski area websites (M=0.38, p=.02) than those receiving the BDS (M=0.84, 0.50, 0.15, respectively). Conclusion Industry professional associations play an important role in disseminating prevention programs; however, active personal communication may be essential to ensure increased implementation fidelity.

Effect of an intervention on observed sun protection by vacationers in a randomized controlled trial at North American resorts

“…Prior to the warm-weather season, research staff met with managers to plan for implementation, using a previously-developed protocol based on diffusion of innovations theory. (Buller et al, 2012) Researchers followed up with managers to provide ongoing support for implementation.…”

Changes in Outdoor Workers' Sun-Related Attitudes, Beliefs, and Behaviors

“…As has been reported by others, workplace management plays a vital role in creating a healthy work environment and motivating workers to participate in sun protection practices. 32,33 Other studies have reported increased sunscreen use in association with a supportive workplace culture [34][35][36] ;…”

Dissemination of Go Sun Smart in Outdoor Recreation: Effect of Program Exposure on Sun Protection of Guests at High-Altitude Ski Areas

“…It appears that both industry distribution in BDS and the added efforts by our project in the EDS did not produce enough implementation to reach guests, despite a higher mean number of GSS materials used in the EDS ski areas. (Authors, 2012). Several factors may explain this failure.…”

“…Guests spend far less time at a ski area than employees and thus have fewer chances to be exposed to the GSS communication. In fact, analyses on employees reported elsewhere found that reported message exposure began to increase after just four GSS items were used anywhere in the ski areas, although it was only with high program use (9 or more items) that employee sun protection increased (Authors, 2012). By contrast, guest exposure did not increase until ski areas displayed six GSS items in guest-accessible areas.…”

“…As noted, the implementation of GSS was highly variable and managers at many ski areas did not use all of the program materials supplied (Authors, 2012). The ROC analyses suggested that use of at least 6 GSS items in guest-accessible areas was optimal for reaching guests.…”