Abstract:Studies have established ultraviolet (UV) exposure with increased melanoma skin cancer risk. The combination of UV exposure, high altitude, and reflection of UV rays on the snow may create a particularly relevant and high-risk population amongst those who participate in snow sports. The current study aims to determine the effectiveness of a UV-photography and personalized counseling-based intervention to improve sun protection awareness on the snow sport enthusiast population. Participants were recruited at the 2013 SnowSports Industries American (SIA) Snow Show in Denver to complete a 14 question pre-survey assessing sun-safety awareness followed by a Faraghan Medical Elise Digital UV Camera photograph of their face and counseling regarding individual results. Participants were contacted one to two months later by telephone to complete a ten question post-survey. Forty-one percent of participants (46/112) completed both pre-and post-surveys. The UV photography based intervention influenced the opinions and behaviors of sun protection in 78% of male and 62% of female participants with sunscreen use identified as the most frequently modified behavior (53%). While valid barriers to UV photography use include a current lack of reimbursement and lack of public knowledge of its utility, our study indicates the potential impact of UV photography-based interventions among high-risk populations who avidly participate in snow sports.

Objective: Snow sport enthusiasts, such as snowboarders and skiers, are a less studied population at significant risk for ultraviolet (UV) exposure due to long hours spent at high altitudes with more intense UV radiation. Studies have documented the efficacy of UV photography to impact sun protection habits by individuals with a range of skin cancer risk factors. Informing snow sport enthusiasts of their sun damage through UV photography may be a way to change this population's perception and behavior of sun protection. Methods: A UV camera was utilized at the 2013 SnowSports Industries America Snow Show in Colorado to assess the level of accumulated sun damage in show attendees. A follow-up survey was performed at this same event one year later in 2014. Participants at the 2013 event were recruited to a UV camera booth and completed a ten-question pre-survey assessing baseline sun-safety awareness and behaviors. Full-face frontal photographs using two different UV camera models were then taken and shown on a digital screen to the participants. Individualized education was provided regarding the degree of sun damage revealed by the intervention as well as sun safety recommendations. Participants were at the 2013 event were then contacted via email six months later to complete a ten-question survey on surveymonkey.com. The survey assessed the permanence of the UV photography intervention on sun habits over the duration of the ski/snowboard season. Email was used for communication purposes after a poor response rate using telephone for a one-month post-intervention follow-up. Results: The 2013 post-intervention study revealed a 41% response rate (n=46) with overall positive influence of UV photography on sun protection behavior in the survey. Post-intervention survey results for the 2014 study with an observed response rate of 28% (n=37) with a similar overall positive influence of our intervention on sun protection behavior. Conclusions: UV photography-based interventions and education may impact sun-safety behavior in high-risk populations such as skiers and snowboarders that may otherwise not receive appropriate education regarding the dangers of UV exposure

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