The Second National Sun Survey Project

The Second National Sun Survey was conducted following the summer of 2006 under the auspices of the National Skin Cancer Prevention Committee of the Primary Prevention Action Group, Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (previously know as the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control).

Survey Objectives

To estimate the current levels of sun exposure, protective behaviours and use of tanning equipment in adults 16+ by age, sex and region
To estimate current levels of sun exposure and protective behaviours in children ages 1 -12.
To estimate the levels of knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about sun safety in adults 16+ by age, sex and region.
To compare levels of sun exposure and protective behaviours in Canadian adults 16+ by age and sex to the first Nation Sun Survey completed in 1996

Survey Workshop

A major aspect of the sun survey project is to share results with public health professionals, health promotion experts, planners, policy makers and safety researchers to facilitate enhanced health promotion planning surveillance and policy development. To focus on these goals, a one-day workshop was held in September 2007 with project staff, research analysts and program and policy experts across Canada.

The main issues for many of the workshop participants included the importance of:

Formulating survey data into reports with short descriptive chapters and simple text summaries of results specific to each region

Forming and delivering messages about sun safety correctly and consistently
Examining what kinds of media messages have been effective

Next Steps

In November 2007, a test version of Sun Surv (information system used to generate survey results) and an accompanying manual was distributed to workshop analysts.
In January 2008, report templates based on feedback from the workshop will be made available to regional representatives to populate with their own data.
Methods for maintaining communication and collaboration will continue to be explored.