Skin cancer is a growing epidemic around the world and rates of incidence rise every year (between 1992 and 2006, the increase was up to 77%). Skin cancer is usually directly related to ultraviolet radiation, especially from the sun and tanning beds. Additionally, there is a misconception that winter sun is less harmful than summer sun, which indirectly leads to numerous cases of skin cancer. Many skin cancers are treatable if detected early; however, prevention of unsafe sun exposure would decrease the number of diagnoses. Nurse practitioners have a great role in health promotion and skin cancer prevention, simply if the chance is given.
Young adults have a negative perception of sun protection, going so far to say that paleness is unattractive and unfashionable (Norton, Holloway, & Galvin, 2014, p. 1890). Because young adults are vulnerable to risky behaviors such as sunburns, sun tanning and tanning bed use, it is important to increase education and knowledge about the deadly consequences of their actions. The role of nurse practitioners, then, is to impart this knowledge to the subjects – young, female adults – in an organized space (such as a classroom), in order to ultimately decrease the number of preventable cases of skin cancer.
Statement of the Problem
There is limited knowledge regarding nurse practitioner-led interventions aimed at educating young, female adults regarding unsafe sun exposure and proper techniques to prevent skin cancer from beach tanning. Young people generally are not interested in the potential long-term risks associated to skin cancer. In contrast, they are generally more likely to avoid short-term risks such as sun burns and discomfort. Furthermore, tanning using tanning beds seems to be very desirable for young people. However, skin aging and damage to skin caused by the sun seems to be of a concern for young females and this can be a positive motivation for change in their behaviours. Also, the younger generations pay closer attention to sun protection while travelling, but are less likely to focus on sun protection while out and about in their home countries (Skin cancer education, 2011).
Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this research is to test the effectiveness of a nurse practitioner-led educational program at the beach, aimed at improving sun protection and increasing knowledge on skin cancer, thus ensuring confidence in young, female adults to reduce their risk of skin cancer. Nurse practitioners can play leading roles in encouraging sun protection and skin cancer prevention. Nurse practitioners care for people from birth to old age, and studies show nurse practitioners are consistent in their ways of attempting to prevent skin cancer cases among their patients compared to their acting physician (Skin cancer knowledge, 2015). Nurses regularly coach parents and guardians on various health actions in order to encourage sun protection for their children. Nurses also teach about the importance of using sun screen every day, wearing clothings which protects the skin such as hats and sunglasses, and also about the dangers of tanning beds (Skin cancer knowledge, 2015).
Nurses must also educate parents in order for them to be aware that skin cancer is nearly entirely preventable if they fully understand the dangers of the sun and tanning beds, and also are aware of ways they can protect their young children and families. Approximately one person dies from skin cancer related issues each hour, every day in the United States (Nurse Role, 2012). About 70% of melanoma skin cancer begin around or on a mole, and nurses are responsible for teaching parents and young people about how to regularly check and compare their moles. Another factor nurses must educate parents and young people on is how people who have freckles or burn easily, have red or blond hair and light green or blue eyes are at a much greater risk than other people with different physical attributes (Nurse Role, 2012).
Although the sun’s rays can be extremely harmful to people if they go unprotected, tanning beds are also leading causes of skin cancer cases in the United States. Tanning beds pose great dangers and teenagers and young people tend to discredit such risks. Melanoma is ever increasing as females between the ages of 15 to 29 frequent tanning beds regularly. Studies have also found that tanning beds used by people under the age of 35 greatly increases the risk of suffering from skin cancer by an astonishing 75% (Nurse Role, 2012).
Nurses are responsible for educating their patients, young and old, about the risks of the sun and tanning beds. They also play a key role in being role models for young people and should also try to practice what they preach by supporting their own naturally toned skin and also avoiding contact with the sun and tanning beds. Furthermore, patients should feel comfortable talking with their nurse practitioner and be encouraged to check and compare their skin and moles every month and also to have an annual physical exam by their doctor (Nurse Role, 2012).
Research Question
In young, female adults with unsafe sun exposure behavior, does skin cancer education and sun protection instruction result in an increased knowledge of skin cancer, use of sun protection and avoidance of sun exposure over the course of three months?
Research Hypothesis
The incidence of sun exposure among young, female adults residing in Miami, Florida will decrease and the incident usage of protective sun gear will increase as a result of education on both skin cancer and sun protection, as provided from a nurse practitioner over a period of three months. A marked increase in knowledge of skin cancer and its prevention will also be seen in young, female adults.
Null Hypothesis
There will be no remarkable changes in knowledge or educational levels regarding skin cancer and unsafe sun exposure among young, female adults located in Miami, Florida. Young, female adults did not use new knowledge and understandings regarding skin cancer to abstain from sun exposure. There was no change in the participant’s usage of protective sun gear, either.
Identifying and Defining Study Variables
Study variables include the participant’s age, name, ethnicity, educational level, and presence of a job. Study variables will also include the following: existing sun protection practice, current skin cancer knowledge, history of sunburns, current attitudes and beliefs about sun exposure, family history of skin cancer and media’s influence regarding sun exposure.
Operationalize Variables
Variables will be made operational by means of a self-reported scale. The self-reported scale will include existing sun protection practice, current skin cancer knowledge, history of sunburns, current attitudes and beliefs about sun exposure, family history of skin cancer and media’s influence regarding sun exposure. Each variable will be tested to understand the important on current unsafe sun habits. The individual variable will be given an importance value between 0 and 4. Thus there will be a measure as a result of importance to the variables within the study.
References
Dyson, J., & Cowdell, F. (2014). Development and psychometric testing of the ‘Motivation and Self‐Efficacy in early detection of skin lesions’ index. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 70(12), 2952-2963. doi:10.1111/jan.12436
Emmons, K. M., Geller, A. C., Puleo, E., Savadatti, S. S., Hu, S. W., Gorham, S., Dana-Farber Skin Cancer Screening Group. (2011). Skin cancer education and early detection at the beach: A randomized trial of dermatologist examination and biometric feedback. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 64(2), doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2010.01.040
Norton, E., Holloway, I., & Galvin, K. (2014). Comfort vs risk: A grounded theory about female adolescent behaviour in the sun. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 23(13-14), 1889-1899. doi:10.1111/jocn.12481
Roebuck, H., Moran, K., MacDonald, D. A., Shumer, S., & McCune, R. L. (2015). Assessing skin cancer prevention and detection educational needs: An andragogical approach. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 11(4), doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2015.01.03
Siegel, Victoria. (2012). Nurse Role in Skin Cancer Prevention. http://nursing.advanceweb.com/Features/Articles/Nurse-Role-in-Skin-Cancer-Prevention.aspx
Swetter, S. M., Pollitt, R. A., Johnson, T. M., Brooks, D. R., & Geller, A. C. (2012). Behavioral determinants of successful early melanoma detection. Cancer, 118(15), 3725-3734. doi:10.1002/cncr.26707
Williams, A., Grogan, S., Clark-Carter, D., & Buckley, E. (2013). British adolescents' sun protection and UV exposure awareness. British Journal of School Nursing, 8(9), 436-441.
Yilmaz, M., Yavuz, B., Subasi, M., Kartal, A., Celebioglu, A., Kacar, H., & Altiparmak, S. (2015). Skin cancer knowledge and sun protection behavior among nursing students. Japan Journal of Nursing Science, 12(1), doi:10.1111/jjns.12049
