Implementation of educational interventions among operating engineers (heavy equipment operators) in Michigan significantly increased the use of sunscreen and decreased the number of reported sunburns, according to results from a randomized controlled trial published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

“The rates of melanoma have been increasing in recent decades in the United States, and outdoor workers are at an increased risk for developing this deadliest form of skin cancer,” said Sonia Duffy, PhD, RN, FAAN, cancer control researcher at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute; professor and Mildred E. Newton Endowed Chair, College of Nursing at The Ohio State University in Columbus; and research scientist at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Ann Arbor, Michigan. “We wanted to investigate how behavioral interventions can affect sunscreen use and sunburning among operating engineers as a way to prevent skin cancer.”

While prior studies have indicated that interventions can result in beneficial sun-safety behaviors among outdoor workers, a systematic analysis revealed that this population had inadequate sun-protective behaviors. Furthermore, in a previous analysis, Duffy and colleagues found that approximately two-thirds of operating engineers reported rarely or never wearing sunscreen, even though 80% of this population reported spending 4 to 5 hours per day in the sun during summer work hours. The use of sunscreen and protective clothing can mitigate exposure to UV radiation and decrease the risk of developing skin cancer.

In this trial, Duffy and colleagues recruited 357 operating engineers in the winter or spring of 2012-2013. Participants were provided baseline surveys and were randomized to four interventions: education only; education and text message reminders; education and mailed sunscreen; and education, text message reminders, and mailed sunscreen. Following the summer intervention, 82.1% of participants responded to post-intervention surveys.

The educational intervention comprised a 30-minute PowerPoint presentation delivered during pre-existing annual safety trainings. Key topics included current use of sun protection in this population as identified in a prior survey, the incidence and prevalence of skin cancer among outdoor workers, skin cancer risk factors and types of skin cancer, and methods to prevent sunburning.

Sample text messages included: “Your family and friends love you—put on sunscreen!” and “86% of [operating engineers] burn each summer—but not you, right?” Mailed sunscreen, which was received three times over the summer, included a large bottle of sun protection factor (SPF) 30 lotion and a small bottle that could be refilled and attached to key rings (as keys are important to operating engineers).

Overall, the percentage of participants who reported never wearing sunscreen was 38.1% at baseline and decreased to 21.8% at follow-up. All four interventions resulted in significantly increased use of sunscreen, with a marginally significant increase among participants who received the intervention comprised of education and text message reminders.

Overall, the percentage of participants who reported burning at least four times during the summer decreased from 18.6% at baseline to 5.8% at follow-up. The number of reported sunburns decreased significantly across all intervention groups. However, there was no significant difference in reported sunburns among the four interventions.

“Our most important finding was that a simple educational intervention significantly decreased the number of sunburns in operational engineers,” noted Duffy. “Text messages and mailed sunscreen further improved outcomes, but education had the largest effect. I think there’s a lack of knowledge about the risks of UV exposure in this population, and it was inspiring to see how a small effort resulted in a sizable health behavioral change.”