Abstract CN02-02: Research on establishing policies for comprehensive UV protection

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. In July 2014, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a Call to Action to prevent skin cancer by reducing exposure to solar and non-solar ultraviolet radiation (UV), a primary risk factor. Policies in educational, occupational, and public spheres are an important component in these prevention efforts. Comprehensive policies are comprised of environmental controls, administrative procedures, and personal protection practices. Policy approaches can overcome low perceived risk, equalize differences among subgroups, maximize health education, and clarify personal and organizational responsibilities. Policy initiatives require effective strategies to achieve changes in organizations.This presentation reviews research by the author and other scientists evaluating strategies for promoting policy change. This works was guided by the diffusion of innovations theory, which holds that policy promotion is achieved through two phases initiation in which organization leaders identify a problem and decide that policy addresses it and implementation where actions dictated by the policy are initiated, organizations adjust their practices or the policy to improve fit, and policy actions become institutionalized.Children are a key target for sun protection interventions and schools have been a common venue for these efforts. A policy promotion program containing in-person meetings with district administrators, printed and online policy materia...
Source: Cancer Prevention Research - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: Exercise and Prevention: Oral Presentations - Invited Abstracts Source Type: research