Grant: Catalyst Grant: Healthy Youth - Physical Health of Youth

Melanoma/skin cancer incidence is growing at an alarming rate. Unfortunately, many Canadians remain either unaware of the dangerous effects of sun exposure or apathetic towards sun safety measures knowingly taking the risk exposing themselves to the sun or artificial ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Unfortunately, such apathy is accentuated in the youth, where according to recent reports only 9% always use sunscreen, while 33% never did in the past. Sun exposure remains as one of the leading preventable causes for human cancers. Unfortunately, previous efforts in Canada (SunSense, BeSunSafe, The Big Burn, etc.) have not produced the desired results. We have defined the distribution of melanoma in Canada and identified high risk populations for this cancer based on geography and environmental factors. We correlated environmental factors with melanoma incidence. Using the models employed in Australia, our goal is to understand different risk factors driving melanoma incidence in men vs. women in different communities with the focus on the youths. We will produce recommendations how to raise melanoma awareness and reduce sun exposure practices in a sex/gender and region-specific ways for young Canadians. We will use 1) our population survey data to understand behavioral differences between high vs. low-risk melanoma regions, 2) existing data on solar radiation, shade availability, tree canopy density, etc. to correlate environmental risk factors with the geographic distribution of melanoma to better understand the impact of environment on individual behavior/melanoma risk. 3) We will use focus groups in schools and universities to develop gender and region-specific recommendations to help change sun exposure practices in the youth. This study will help 1) identify gaps by region in the current public health efforts, 2) foster the community of concern for melanoma and 3) determine immediate steps to develop targeted sun protection programs for Canadian youth.