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Article
Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Sun Safety
JAMA Dermatology
  • Alan C. Geller, Kent State University
  • Nina G. Jablonski, Pennsylvania State University
  • Sherry L. Pagoto, University of Massachusetts
  • Jennifer L. Hay, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
  • Joel Hillhouse, East Tennessee State University
  • David B. Buller, Klein Buendel
  • W. Larry Kenney, Pennsylvania State University
  • June K. Robinson, Northwestern University
  • Richard B. Weller, University of Edinburgh
  • Megan A. Moreno, University of Washington
  • Barbara A. Gilchrest, Harvard Medical School
  • Craig Sinclair, Cancer Council Victoria
  • Jamie Arndt, University Missouri
  • Jennifer M. Taber
  • Kasey L. Morris, National Cancer Institute
  • Laura A. Dwyer, National Cancer Institute
  • Frank M. Perna, National Cancer Institute
  • William M.P. Klein, National Cancer Institute
  • Jerry Suls, National Cancer Institute
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2018
Description

Overexposure to the sun is associated with an increased risk of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer, but indications of improvements in sun protection behavior are poor. Attempts to identify emerging themes in skin cancer control have largely been driven by groups of experts from a single field. In December 2016, 19 experts from various disciplines convened for Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Skin Cancer, a 2-day meeting hosted by the National Academy of Sciences. The group discussed knowledge gaps, perspectives on sun exposure, implications for skin cancer risk and other health outcomes, and new directions. Five themes emerged from the discussion: (1) The definition of risk must be expanded, and categories for skin physiology must be refined to incorporate population diversities. (2) Risky sun exposure often co-occurs with other health-related behaviors. (3) Messages must be nuanced to target at-risk populations. (4) Persons at risk for tanning disorder must be recognized and treated. (5) Sun safety interventions must be scalable. Efficient use of technologies will be required to sharpen messages to specific populations and to integrate them within multilevel interventions. Further interdisciplinary research should address these emerging themes to build effective and sustainable approaches to large-scale behavior change.

Disciplines
Citation Information
Alan C. Geller, Nina G. Jablonski, Sherry L. Pagoto, Jennifer L. Hay, et al.. "Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Sun Safety" JAMA Dermatology Vol. 154 Iss. 1 (2018) p. 88 - 92 ISSN: 2168-6068
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/joel-hillhouse/19/