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.

A new study published in the JMIR mHealth and uHealth tested the effectiveness of wearable UV sensors to increase sun protection habits (SPH) and prevent sunburn in adolescents.

This field study recruited 663 attendees of a weeklong school leavers outdoor festival (November 2019) at the Gold Coast, Australia—aged 15-19 years. 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.

Complete data were available for 188 participants. It was found that participants provided with a wearable UV sensor significantly improved their use of sunglasses and sunscreen use both, on the face and on other parts of the body. While the use of long-sleeve shirts and the use of a hat decreased. During the study period, 31.4% of the participants reported receiving one or more sunburns. Satisfaction with the wearable UV sensor was high – with 73.4% of participants reporting that the UV sensor was helpful in reminding them to use sun protection.

It was inferred that devices that target health behaviors when outdoors, such as wearable UV sensors, may improve the use of sunscreen and sunglasses among adolescents.

Source: JMIR mHealth and uHealth. 2020 Sep 16;8(9):e21243. doi: 10.2196/21243.