TY  - JOUR
AU  - Horsham, Caitlin
AU  - Antrobus, Jodie
AU  - Olsen, Catherine M
AU  - Ford, Helen
AU  - Abernethy, David
AU  - Hacker, Elke
PY  - 2020
DA  - 2020/9/16
TI  - Testing Wearable UV Sensors to Improve Sun Protection in Young Adults at an Outdoor Festival: Field Study
JO  - JMIR Mhealth Uhealth
SP  - e21243
VL  - 8
IS  - 9
KW  - melanoma
KW  - health promotion
KW  - public health
KW  - preventive medicine
KW  - sunlight
KW  - sunburn
KW  - adolescents
AB  - Background: Australia and New Zealand have the highest skin cancer incidence rates worldwide, and sun exposure is the main risk factor for developing skin cancer. Sun exposure during childhood and adolescence is a critical factor in developing skin cancer later in life. Objective: This study aims to test the effectiveness of wearable UV sensors to increase sun protection habits (SPH) and prevent sunburn in adolescents. Methods: During the weeklong school leavers outdoor festival (November 2019) at the Gold Coast, Australia, registered attendees aged 15-19 years were recruited into the field study. Participants were provided with a wearable UV sensor and free sunscreen. The primary outcome was sun exposure practices using the SPH index. Secondary outcomes were self-reported sunburns, sunscreen use, and satisfaction with the wearable UV sensor. Results: A total of 663 participants were enrolled in the study, and complete data were available for 188 participants (188/663, 28.4% response rate). Participants provided with a wearable UV sensor significantly improved their use of sunglasses (P=.004) and sunscreen use both on the face (P<.001) and on other parts of the body (P=.005). However, the use of long-sleeve shirts (P<.001) and the use of a hat (P<.001) decreased. During the study period, 31.4% (59/188) of the participants reported receiving one or more sunburns. Satisfaction with the wearable UV sensor was high, with 73.4% (138/188) of participants reporting the UV sensor was helpful to remind them to use sun protection. Conclusions: Devices that target health behaviors when outdoors, such as wearable UV sensors, may improve use of sunscreen and sunglasses in adolescents. 
SN  - 2291-5222
UR  - http://mhealth.jmir.org/2020/9/e21243/
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/21243
UR  - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32936083
DO  - 10.2196/21243
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/21243
ER  -