Journal Information
Vol. 111. Issue 6.
Pages 531-533 (July - August 2020)
Vol. 111. Issue 6.
Pages 531-533 (July - August 2020)
Case and Research Letters
Open Access
Skin Cancer and UV Literacy - Outdoor Workers Study
Cáncer de piel y alfabetización sobre UV: Estudio en trabajadores al aire libre
Visits
3543
A.F. Duartea,b,
Corresponding author
, I. Motac, M. Campod, O. Correiaa,b,e,f
a Centro de Dermatología Epidermis, Instituto CUF, Oporto, Portugal
b Asociación Portuguesa de Cáncer de Piel, Oporto, Portugal
c Fundação Manuel António da Mota, Oporto, Portugal
d Departamento de Calidad, Medio Ambiente y Seguridad, Mota-Engil - Engenharia e Construção, S.A., Oporto, Portugal
e CINTESIS - Centro de Investigación de Tecnología y Servicios de Salud, Oporto, Portugal
f Unidad de Inmunología Básica y Clínica, Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Oporto, Oporto, Portugal
This item has received

Under a Creative Commons license
Article information
Full Text
Bibliography
Download PDF
Statistics
Tables (1)
Table 1. Sun Exposure Behavior and Literacy Among Construction Site Workers (n = 95) by Level of Education.
Full Text
Dear Editor:

UV radiation is the main preventable cause of skin cancer, and outdoor workers are a high-risk group.1–3 Skin cancer induced by UV radiation is a recognized occupational disease, but preventive measures for outdoor workers are rare in the construction sector.4

We performed a cross-sectional study to analyze sun exposure behaviors and skin cancer and UV radiation literacy among workers with different levels of education at an outdoor construction site. After reviewing the relevant literature,5 we designed a questionnaire consisting of 23 questions to collect information on demographic, constitutional, and socioeconomic factors, sun exposure behaviors, and knowledge about skin cancer and UV radiation. Level of education was classified as primary (4-6 six years of schooling), secondary (9-10 years), or university (degree). We created contingency tables and analyzed associations using the X2 test of independence. Statistical significance was set at a P level of less than .05.

All the construction workers (n = 95) completed the questionnaire; they had a mean age of 42 years and 88% were men.

Workers with a primary education were more likely to work outdoors (97% vs. 64%, P < .001) and to have experienced sunburn during work (36% vs. 13%, P < .001). They were less likely to be screened for skin cancer (10% vs. 28%, P = .024).

Most workers, regardless of their level of education, did not associate actinic keratosis with a risk of skin cancer. Workers with a university degree were largely aware that a high index of UV did not necessarily mean high temperatures (95% vs. 44%, p < .001), but only half knew what the UV index scale was (Table 1). These rates, however, are higher than those reported elsewhere.6

Table 1.

Sun Exposure Behavior and Literacy Among Construction Site Workers (n = 95) by Level of Education.

  Education
  Primary (n = 33, 34%)Secondary (n = 24, 25%)University (n = 39, 41%) 
  No.  (%)  No.  (%)  No.  (%)  P 
Sex<. 001** 
Male  32  (97)  24  (100)  26  (68)   
Skin type.596** 
(13)  (5)  (3)   
II  (29)  (20)  15  (39)   
III  (33)  (40)  15  (39)   
IV  (25)  (30)  (16)   
(0)  (5)  (3)   
Outdoor work< .001* 
Yes  32  (97)  22  (92)  25  (64)   
Outdoor leisure activities.192* 
Yes  24  (75)  22  (92)  34  (87)   
History of sunburn during outdoor work<.001** 
Yes, 1-2 episodes  (18)  (8)  (13)   
Yes, ≥ 3 episodes  (18)  (0)  (0)   
Did not recall  (15)  (0)  (0)   
History of sunburn during outdoor leisure activities.056** 
Yes, 1-2 episodes  (25)  (25)  14  (36)   
Yes, ≥ 3 episodes  (13)  (4)  (15)   
Did not recall  (13)  (0)  (0)   
Skin cancer screening
Yes  (10)  (4)  11  (28)  .024** 
Self-skin examination
Yes  (28)  (35)  19  (49)  .202* 
Holidays in a tropical country
Yes  10  (31)  (13)  21  (54)  .003* 
The following conditions are associated with skin cancer:
Actinic keratosis              .116* 
Yes  (23)  (50)  13  (59)   
Basal cell carcinoma              .004** 
Yes  (62)  (50)  26  (96)   
Squamous cell carcinoma              .004** 
Yes  (50)  (50)  25  (93)   
Melanoma              .001** 
Yes  (60)  (50)  29  (97)   
Do you tend to consult information on the IPMA? (www.ipma.pt)              .874* 
Yes  13  (50)  (43)  19  (49)   
Are you familiar with the UV index scale?              .027** 
Yes  17  (59)  12  (52)  32  (82)   
If so, what is the scale?              .766* 
1, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50  (54)  (58)  13  (46)   
1-11  (46)  (42)  15  (54)   
A high UV index always means high temperatures              < .001* 
False  11  (44)  (29)  37  (95)   

Abbreviation: IPMA, Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera (Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere).

*

X2 test.

**

Fisher exact test.

Despite its limitations (self-reported data from a single construction site), our study offers some interesting results. Construction workers with a primary or secondary education have low levels of skin cancer and UV literacy, were more likely to be exposed to sun at work, and were less likely to screened for skin cancer. Only 19% of all workers surveyed had a history of sunburn at work; 40%, by contrast, reported having been burnt during leisure time. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of sun exposure during leisure time, but, in agreement with reports elsewhere,7 sunburn while doing leisure activities was more common among workers with a university education.

Organizational measures such as scheduling outdoor work during times of the day with a low UV index or providing shade are often not possible in the construction industry. In the interest of occupational safety, it should be obligatory to implement standard sun protection measures and screening programs for workers chronically exposed to UV radiation.

Outdoor workers, and particularly those with a primary school education only, have poor sun exposure habits and low skin cancer literacy.8 Construction companies should target this group of workers, as their protection is an investment opportunity with high returns: improved health, less absenteeism, and lower disease-associated costs.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Funding

The authors would like to thank the Portuguese Skin Cancer Association, its president Dr. António Picoto, and Orquídea Ribeiro for performing the statistical analysis.

References
[1]
C. Horsham, J. Auster, M.C. Sendall, M. Stoneham, P. Youl, P. Crane, et al.
Interventions to decrease skin cancer risk in outdoor workers: update to a 2007 systematic review.
BMC Res Notes., 7 (2014), pp. 10
[2]
A. Varedi, A.M. Secrest, G. Harding, L. Maness, D. Branson, K. Smith, et al.
Comprehensive outreach, prevention education, and skin cancer screening for Utah ski resorts.
Dermatol Online J., 24 (2018),
[3]
J. del Boz, T. Fernandez-Morano, L. Padilla-Espana, M. Aguilar-Bernier, F. Rivas-Ruiz, M. de Troya-Martin.
Skin cancer prevention and detection campaign at golf courses on Spain’s Costa del Sol.
Actas Dermo-Sifiliogr., 106 (2015), pp. 51-60
[4]
J.H. Alfonso, A. Bauer, L. Bensefa-Colas, A. Boman, M. Bubas, L. Constandt, et al.
Minimum standards on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of occupational and work-related skin diseases in Europe - position paper of the COST Action StanDerm (TD 1206).
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol., 31 (2017), pp. 31-43
[5]
J.P. McCool, A.I. Reeder, E.M. Robinson, K.J. Petrie, D.F. Gorman.
Outdoor workers’ perceptions of the risks of excess sun-exposure.
J Occup Health., 51 (2009), pp. 404-411
[6]
K. Hault, H. Ronsch, S. Beissert, P. Knuschke, A. Bauer.
Knowledge of outdoor workers on the effects of natural UV radiation and methods of protection against exposure.
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol., 30 (2016), pp. 34-37
[7]
F. Grange, L. Mortier, A. Crine, C. Robert, B. Sassolas, C. Lebbe, et al.
Prevalence of sunbed use, and characteristics and knowledge of sunbed users: results from the French population-based Edifice Melanoma survey.
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol., 29 (2015), pp. 23-30
[8]
M. Trakatelli, K. Barkitzi, C. Apap, S. Majewski, E. De Vries.
Skin cancer risk in outdoor workers: a European multicenter case-control study.
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol., 30 Suppl 3 (2016), pp. 5-11

Please cite this article as: Duarte AF, Mota I, Campo M, Correia O. Cáncer de piel y alfabetización sobre UV: Estudio en trabajadores al aire libre. Actas Dermosifiliogr. 2020;111:531–533.

Copyright © 2020. AEDV
Download PDF
Idiomas
Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas
Article options
Tools
es en

¿Es usted profesional sanitario apto para prescribir o dispensar medicamentos?

Are you a health professional able to prescribe or dispense drugs?