Implementation of an Occupational Sun Safety Intervention: Comparison of Two Scalability Strategies

David B Buller; Mary Klein Buller; Richard Meenan; Gary R Cutter; Julia Berteletti; Kimberly L Henry; Alishia Kinsey; Irene Adjei; Noah Chirico

doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000003248

Implementation of an Occupational Sun Safety Intervention: Comparison of Two Scalability Strategies

J Occup Environ Med. 2024 Oct 10. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003248. Online ahead of print.

Authors

David B Buller¹, Mary Klein Buller², Richard Meenan³, Gary R Cutter⁴, Julia Berteletti⁵, Kimberly L Henry⁶, Alishia Kinsey⁷, Irene Adjei⁸, Noah Chirico⁹

Affiliations

¹ Senior Scientist and Director of Research at Klein Buendel, Inc. in Golden, CO, USA.
² President at Klein Buendel, Inc. in Golden, CO, USA.
³ Senior Investigator at Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, OR, USA.
⁴ Professor Emeritus at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, AL, USA.
⁵ Research Associate at Klein Buendel, Inc. in Golden, CO, USA.
⁶ Professor at Colorado State University in Ft Collins, CO, USA.
⁷ Senior Project Coordinator at Klein Buendel, Inc. in Golden, CO, USA.
⁸ Project Coordinator at Klein Buendel, Inc. in Golden, CO, USA.
⁹ Data Manager at Klein Buendel, Inc. in Golden, CO, USA.

PMID: 39393925
DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003248

Abstract

Objective: Two methods for scaling up an evidence-based occupational sun protection program were compared.

Methods: Regional districts (n = 138) in 21 state Departments of Transportation throughout the United States were randomized to receive the Go Sun Smart at Work program via in-person or digital scalability methods in 2019-2022 in 1:2 ratio. Managers completed pretest and posttest surveys and employees completed posttest surveys. Due to the COVID pandemic, only posttest measures were analyzed (n = 255 managers; n = 1387 employees).

Results: After scale-up, more employees reported training (b = 0.381, p = 0.021) and communication (b = 0.112, p = 0.049) at workplaces in in-person rather than digital strategy. There were no differences in managers' reports of sun protection training, communication, or actions by scalability method (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: Occupational sun protection was implemented during program scale up and employees recalled training/communication more in the in-person than digital strategy.