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Preventing Skin Cancer: Community-Wide, Multicomponent Interventions

(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.

Community-wide multicomponent sun-protection programs use combinations of approaches to influence the behaviors 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.

Community-wide programs are combinations of the following components which are integrated within a defined geographic area (city, state, province, or country):

  • Individual-directed strategies
  • Media campaigns
  • Environmental and policy changes

Interventions included in this review were usually delivered with a defined theme, name or logo, and set of messages.

Comprehensive community-wide programs are a subset of multicomponent interventions. For the purpose of this review, they were defined as:

  • Operating on multiple levels (i.e., include multiple individual-directed, setting-specific and community-wide components)
  • Being designed to address a substantial portion of the population in a defined area
  • Conducted over period of a year or more

They may also combine education with significant efforts to institute sun-protection policies and structural supports.

Summary of Task Force Recommendations & Findings

The Community Preventive Services Task Force finds insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness of multicomponent programs to reduce UV exposure or increase sun-protective behaviors because of inconsistent results.

The Task Force also finds insufficient evidence 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.

Task Force Finding

Results from the Systematic Review

Eight studies of community-wide multicomponent programs qualified for the review.

  • Of the seven studies in the community-wide multicomponent programs that measured covering-up or sun-avoidance behaviors:
    • Four showed generally positive outcomes
    • Three others showed essentially no significant change
  • All from Australia, the three studies assessing comprehensive community-wide programs:
    • All showed changes in covering-up or sun-avoidance behaviors in the desired direction.
    • These results, all from Australia, are promising, but by themselves still provide insufficient evidence to determine effectiveness due to the small numbers of studies and limitations in study design and execution.

image of planetFind a Research-tested Intervention Program (RTIP) External Web Site Icon about the use of community-wide multicomponent interventions (What is an RTIP?).

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

Publications

Saraiya M, Glanz K, Briss PA, et al. Interventions to prevent skin cancer by reducing exposure to ultraviolet radiation: a systematic review. Adobe PDF File [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. External Web Site Icon

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

Task Force on Community Preventive Services. Cancer. Adobe PDF File [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 multicomponent interventions (2003 archived review). www.thecommunityguide.org/cancer/skin/community-wide/multicomponent.html. Last updated: MM/DD/YYYY.

Review completed: October 2003