Causeway Health and Social Services Trust

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Causeway Health and Social Services Trust
Health Promotion Service Geraldine
McDonnell geraldine.mcdonnell_at_chsst.n-I.nhs.uk
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• Strategy for the prevention, diagnosis and
  treatment of malignant melanoma and other skin
  cancers in Northern Ireland
• To raise awareness of melanoma and its dangers
• To raise awareness of the relationship between
  skin cancers and exposure to sunlight
• To increase knowledge of personal protection
  measures especially for those caring for children
• To increase numbers of people who believe such
  action to be necessary
• To change behaviour in keeping with Care in the
  Sun

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• Target groups
• 2004 Children
• 2005 Outdoor workers - Farmers 2005

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• 1. Care in the Sun Puppet Show
• To educate Primary School Children about the
  dangers of sun exposure and how to protect the
  skin from damage, in an effective and
  innovative way
• Key Stages 1 2 in 36 primary schools
• 2234 children
• CHSST Care in the Sun Group
  Ulster Cancer Foundation
• Funding from NHSSB

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• Care in Sun Puppet Show
• Puppet Theatre materials developed and
  facilitators retained
• Percy Piglet readers purchased for all children
• Sun teaching packs purchased and distributed to
  teachers in KS 1 2
• Legionnaire hats purchased to be worn by each
  child (matching school uniforms)

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• Evaluation
• 97 teachers felt the initiative would facilitate
  teaching Care in the Sun in their school
• 94 rated the childrens enjoyment of the
  performance as excellent.
• Comments
• The children loved the humour and being
  interactive with the puppets
• The messages were explicit Repetition of key
  messages - the children remembered them later in
  class
• Good idea giving out hat and booklet - brings
  message home to parents
• I think even teachers are now more aware about
  protection from the sun and perhaps ask parents
  to send in a hat or apply sunscreen in the
  morning and send to school if needed.

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2. Farmer Workers Campaign To increase
awareness of the link between sun exposure and
skin cancer among farm workers in Causeway
area To encourage safer skin protection practices
among farmers during the summer To increase
awareness about the early signs of skin cancer
and the need for prompt attention
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• Summary of Campaign
• Key sun safety messages delivered to farming
  community through dedicated media slots and
  events
• Leaflet outlining reasons for sun protection
  among farmers, promoting sun safe practices, and
  early detection of melanoma.
• Sun protection kits distributed to 500
  farmers (Sun block, lip balm, wide brimmed hat,
  polo shirt, key-ring with key message and
  leaflets)
• HEA (1993), The development of a Sun Safe
  Code Girgis (1994) increasing outdoor
  workers use of solar protection.

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• Partners
• CHSST Dermatology Dept
• Ulster Cancer Foundation
• Ulster Farmers Union
• Local Young Farmers Clubs
• Linked to Rural Support

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• Campaign to run over July and August 2005
• Sun safe messages to reach majority of 110,000
  population
• Specific information to be received by 3,500 farm
  workers (approx)
• Sun Protection Kits to be received by 500 farm
  workers
• Pre and Post evaluation with 350 farm workers