Preventing Skin Cancer: Community-Wide Multicomponent Interventions

(2003 Archived Review)

Task Force Finding*

Community-wide multicomponent sun-protection programs use combinations of approaches to affect the behavior of groups of people in a defined geographic area. These programs may range from combining a setting-specific program with a mass media campaign to a complex, multilevel effort involving entire communities, schools, workplaces, healthcare settings, and recreation settings. Multilevel interventions that address a substantial portion of the population in an area and last more than one year are considered to be comprehensive. They may combine education with significant efforts to institute sun protection policies and structural supports.

The Task Force found insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness of multicomponent programs to reduce UV exposure or increase sun-protective behaviors because of inconsistent results. Evidence was insufficient to determine the effectiveness of comprehensive community-wide programs to reduce UV exposure or increase sun-protective behaviors because of small numbers of studies with limitations in their study design and execution.

*From the following publication:

Task Force on Community Preventive Services. Recommendations to prevent skin cancer by reducing exposure to ultraviolet radiation. [PDF - 70KB] Am J Prev Med 2004;27(5):467-70.