A recent report by the Australian Department of Health & Ageing¹ concludes that "an early detection program would need to change perceptions of personal relevance and educate people in the skills that they would need to check their own skin".  Furthermore, it states that "any detection campaign would need to focus on seeing a health professional regularly."

This is what Skin Patrol does.

Skin Patrol changes individuals sun-safety habits at work and during leisure time.

While facts and figures are important, they are not enough and the Skin Patrol program combines general skin cancer and sun-safety education with facts relating specifically to individuals lifestyle, skin type and their own risk factor. 

This results in "ownership of change".

One-on-one education is the critical medium in the communication mix when it comes to skin cancer education. It provides a confidential environment for questions that one may not ask in a group situation and demonstrates personal relevance.

Many employees have misconceptions about the sun and skin cancer that need to be addressed before they can practice sun-safety.

Some misconceptions include:

Its too late to worry about prevention, the damage is already done FALSE

I am too olive/dark to get skin cancer     FALSE

Only burning is a problem    FALSE

A tan protects against skin cancer    FALSE

A 30+ sunscreen is adequate for a days work in the sun     FALSE

You need a long amount of sun exposure to avoid Vitamin D deficiency    FALSE

(The overwhelming majority of Australians get enough incidental sun - even in the depths of winter)

Only need to put sunscreen on when hot and sunny    FALSE

Only older people need to look for skin cancer     FALSE

¹ Eureka Project 3190. Development Research for National Skin Cancer Campaign.

Department of Health and Ageing. February 2006.  Page 79.