Ultraviolet – IFMSA-Chile

Name of the activity: Ultraviolet

Country/NMO: IFMSA-Chile

Program: Healthy Lifestyles & Non-Communicable Diseases

Contact information: contact [email protected] to get in touch with the Activity Coordinator

Type of the activity: First-time Activity

Category: Education

Focus area: Prevention of NCDs and Health Promotion, Cancer

Sustainable Development Goals addressed: SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being)

General description:

It is a project that seeks to promote the correct use of sunscreen, demolish myths and educate about its importance in health of general population. All this through campaigns with informative stands and its diffusion through social networks carried out by previously trained students in the health area.

With “”Ultraviolet””, it is hoped that the people who receive the information can initiate a responsible use of sunscreen for the care of their skin and can promote it with their loved ones.

Problem statement:

It is currently known the fact that one third of cancer diagnoses correspond to skin cancer. In the world every year 3 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer and 132,000 of melanoma are diagnosed, adding up to 63,731 deaths in 2020 alone. 

So is it really an important issue to educate on the use of sunscreen? Of course, the importance of using sunscreen lies hidden in its great power of prevention.

Target groups:

• General population

Beneficiaries:

• General population

Objectives:

Promote the correct use of sunscreen in the population through health education, strengthening the knowledge of the general population and medical students about the damage of UV radiation and how to prevent it.

Indicators of Success:

That at least 70% of the volunteers are trained for the information stand through the approval of the post-training questionnaire.

Educate the general population about the correct use of sunscreen through a stand with information and material with information, at least twice a year, either in universities, health centers and/or public places.

That at least 60% of the people attending the stand are able to name 3/5 alert factors in a dermatological stain.

Upload information to at least one Local Committee’s social network, using graphic resources, such as infographics or informative videos, thus reaching another audience (medical students and the general public that follow the account). 

It is expected that at least 30 people respond and 70% get 4/6 correct answers.

Methodology:

1) Train volunteers through informative talks on the topics: correct use of sunscreen, possible damage from UV radiation and alert signs in melanocytic nevus; They can be taught by students from third to seventh grade or by a professional specialized in the area. At least 2 volunteers must participate in the creation of informative material (flyers/brochures).

2) Set up an informative stand in a crowded place. It is suggested to get sunscreens to give away.

3) Invite people to the stand, you can wait or approach them. The damages of unprotected exposure to sunlight will be informed to the people, they will be given information on alarm signs in melanocytic nevus, the importance will be emphasized of the use of sunscreens as a preventive method, teaching its correct use, and it will close by delivering brochures or other resources with the most important points of the exposed topics.

4) At the end, infographics will be share on social networks. (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter).

Plans for evaluation:

At the end of the training of the volunteers, carry out the same questionnaire in which it is expected that at least 70% of the attendees answer at least 6 out of 10 correct answers.

At the end of the tour of the stand, attendees will fill out a google form where they will evaluate the activity and give feedback. At least 20 people from the general public. It will also have a knowledge evaluation section where they will be asked about the 5 warning factors of a dermatological stain (and they are expected to obtain a minimum of 3/5). This last part they will also fill out before the tour of the stand to compare the before and after.

The impact and reach of the published digital resources of the activity will be measured through “likes”. At least 60 for each publication.

Also, carry out a “”quiz”” with 6 questions through Instagram stories, where at least 30 people are expected to answer and 70% answer at least 4 of 6 correct answers.

External collaborations:

We expect collaboration from sunscreens enterprises, not only with educational material but also with sunscreens itself. We haven’t received financial support yet.