Preventing Skin Cancer: Community-Wide, Mass Media Campaigns
(2003 Archived Review)
This is an archived summary of the systemic review and Task Force finding published in 2003. Read a summary of the updated review and related Task Force finding.
Mass media interventions to prevent skin cancer aim to increase knowledge, influence attitude, beliefs, and intentions, and change behavior regarding sun safety. Examples of mass media interventions include public service announcements on television, CD–ROM-based information kiosks, and reporting of the UV index in newspapers.
Summary of Task Force Recommendations & Findings
The Community Preventive Services Task Force finds insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness of mass media in changing sun exposure behaviors because of (1) limitations in study design and execution of available studies, (2) the small number of qualifying studies, and (3) variability in interventions and outcomes evaluated.
Results from the Systematic Review
Three studies qualified for the review.
- Qualifying studies had limitations in their design and execution.
- Reported results either did not address covering-up or sun avoidance behavior, or did not allow separation of the effects of mass media interventions alone.
These results are based on a systematic review of all available studies led by scientists from CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control with input from a team of specialists in systematic review methods and experts in research, practice and policy related to preventing skin cancer.
Supporting Materials
- Analytic framework
[PDF - 68KB] - Evidence Gaps
- Included Studies
Publications
Saraiya M, Glanz K, Briss PA, et al. Interventions to prevent skin cancer by reducing exposure to ultraviolet radiation: a systematic review. [PDF - 788KB] Am J Prev Med 2004;27(5):422-66.
CDC. Preventing skin cancer. Findings of the Task Force on Community Preventive Services on reducing exposure to ultraviolet light. MMWR 2003;52(RR-15):1-12. 
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.
Task Force on Community Preventive Services. Cancer. [PDF - 402KB] In : Zaza S, Briss PA, Harris KW, eds. The Guide to Community Preventive Services: What Works to Promote Health? Atlanta (GA): Oxford University Press;2005:143-87.
More Community Guide publications about Cancer Prevention and Control
Disclaimer
The findings and conclusions on this page are those of the Community Preventive Services Task Force and do not necessarily represent those of CDC.
Sample Citation
The content of publications of the Guide to Community Preventive Services is in the public domain. Citation as to source, however, is appreciated. Sample citation: Guide to Community Preventive Services. Preventing skin cancer: community-wide, mass media campaigns (2003 Archived Review). www.thecommunityguide.org/cancer/skin/community-wide/massmedia_archive.html. Last updated: MM/DD/YYYY.
Review completed: October 2003
- Page last reviewed: January 27, 2011
- Page last updated: December 14, 2011
- Content source: The Guide to Community Preventive Services
