{"title":"A prospective study analyzing the use of free public sunscreen dispensers.","authors":"Samuel Farag, Karen Farag, Mélissa Généreux","doi":"10.17269/s41997-024-00946-x","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Setting: </strong>This study evaluates the impact of sunscreen dispensers in increasing sunscreen usage and awareness in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada.</p><p><strong>Intervention: </strong>In June 2022, three touchless sunscreen dispensers offering free Health Canada-approved SPF 30 sunscreen were installed in areas of high pedestrian traffic. A team of four city workers gathered observational data over a 17-day span between July and August 2022.</p><p><strong>Outcomes: </strong>Seven days of monitoring took place at the city ballpark, seven at a children's park, and three at the city beachfront boardwalk. In total, 1202 individuals were observed near the dispensers, of whom 209 utilized the dispensers, yielding a usage rate of 17.4 per 100 persons. The usage rate varied by location, with the children's park recording a higher average (40.0 users per 100 persons), and was also weather-dependent, with increased usage on sunny days (average of 52.2 users per 100 persons). The majority of users were classified with a Fitzpatrick skin type of I or II. The sunscreen bags, designed for 2000 applications, did not require refilling during the observation period. The QR code associated with the dispensers was scanned 14 times.</p><p><strong>Implications: </strong>The findings of this study indicate that installing sunscreen dispensers in public spaces may increase the frequency of sunscreen application. Both the location of the dispensers and the perception of weather conditions seem to impact usage rates.</p>","PeriodicalId":51407,"journal":{"name":"Canadian Journal of Public Health-Revue Canadienne De Sante Publique","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.9000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Canadian Journal of Public Health-Revue Canadienne De Sante Publique","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-024-00946-x","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Setting: This study evaluates the impact of sunscreen dispensers in increasing sunscreen usage and awareness in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
Intervention: In June 2022, three touchless sunscreen dispensers offering free Health Canada-approved SPF 30 sunscreen were installed in areas of high pedestrian traffic. A team of four city workers gathered observational data over a 17-day span between July and August 2022.
Outcomes: Seven days of monitoring took place at the city ballpark, seven at a children's park, and three at the city beachfront boardwalk. In total, 1202 individuals were observed near the dispensers, of whom 209 utilized the dispensers, yielding a usage rate of 17.4 per 100 persons. The usage rate varied by location, with the children's park recording a higher average (40.0 users per 100 persons), and was also weather-dependent, with increased usage on sunny days (average of 52.2 users per 100 persons). The majority of users were classified with a Fitzpatrick skin type of I or II. The sunscreen bags, designed for 2000 applications, did not require refilling during the observation period. The QR code associated with the dispensers was scanned 14 times.
Implications: The findings of this study indicate that installing sunscreen dispensers in public spaces may increase the frequency of sunscreen application. Both the location of the dispensers and the perception of weather conditions seem to impact usage rates.
期刊介绍:
The Canadian Journal of Public Health is dedicated to fostering excellence in public health research, scholarship, policy and practice. The aim of the Journal is to advance public health research and practice in Canada and around the world, thus contributing to the improvement of the health of populations and the reduction of health inequalities.
CJPH publishes original research and scholarly articles submitted in either English or French that are relevant to population and public health.
CJPH is an independent, peer-reviewed journal owned by the Canadian Public Health Association and published by Springer.
Énoncé de mission
La Revue canadienne de santé publique se consacre à promouvoir l’excellence dans la recherche, les travaux d’érudition, les politiques et les pratiques de santé publique. Son but est de faire progresser la recherche et les pratiques de santé publique au Canada et dans le monde, contribuant ainsi à l’amélioration de la santé des populations et à la réduction des inégalités de santé.
La RCSP publie des articles savants et des travaux inédits, soumis en anglais ou en français, qui sont d’intérêt pour la santé publique et des populations.
La RCSP est une revue indépendante avec comité de lecture, propriété de l’Association canadienne de santé publique et publiée par Springer.