Melanoma Prevention: Is It Possible to Change a Population's Behavior in the Sun?

Abstract

With the highest incidence and mortality rates of melanoma in the world, Australia has been running carefully designed primary prevention programs for more than 10 years. These have included public education programs aimed at all ages but concentrating particularly on young people. The programs have also included structural changes such as provision of shade in open space, rescheduling work and sport activities, removal of sales tax from approved sunscreens, and provision of cheap sunscreens. There have been substantial changes in knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about melanoma, sunlight, and suntans. There have been significant increases in sun protective behavior reflected in the reduced proportions of people sunburnt at the weekend in summer in recent years. The incidence rate of melanoma continues to rise, as expected. Although there has been considerable success so far, we still have a long way to go.