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UL Hospitals Dermatology Department launches sun awareness campaign

Evelyn Power, Skin Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist, Dermatology Department, UL Hospitals Group, with Dr Sinead Field, Consultant Dermatologist, UL Hospitals Group, and Dr Emma Porter, Registrar Dermatology Department UL Hospitals Group. The Dermatology Department of University of Limerick Hospital Group (ULHG) launched a new sun awareness campaign for staff. The focus of the campaign centred on digital communication channels across the group.

The Irish Skin Foundation (ISF), normally provides skin cancer literature which is used in ULHG. This year, in association with the Dermatology Department and funded by National Cancer Control Programme, this literature was converted to awareness videos.

The Healthy Ireland (HI) SunSmart messages were used to create five animated versions of the ISF’s ‘Everyone Under the Sun’ sun awareness literature. This is part of a wider research study aimed the staff in ULHG.

Following production of the videos it was decided to immediately launch them nationally as part of the Healthy Ireland SunSmart National Campaign.

Dr Sinead Field, Consultant Dermatologist at University Hospital Limerick, said of the video animation series, “Traditional health promotion campaigns have had to be reimagined in light of COVID-19 public health restrictions. Our aim in developing these animations was to bring the SunSmart messaging to life by creating a novel skin cancer awareness campaign in response to these changed circumstances and explore how digital health promotion initiatives can support all of us in adopting healthy sun protective behaviours.”

The messaging in the series highlights key skin cancer preventative behaviours and focuses primarily on the four priority groups identified in the National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan 2019-2022; children and young people, outdoor workers, those who participate in outdoor leisure activities and sunbed users. The videos encourage people to follow the SunSmart 5 S’s: Slip-on clothing that covers your skin, Slap on sunscreen, Slap on a wide-brimmed hat, Seek shade, and Slide on sunglasses.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Ireland, with over 13,000 cases diagnosed annually. This is twice the number compared to 10 years ago and is projected to more than double again by 2045. Yet, most skin cancers could be prevented.