Globally, cutaneous melanoma (CM) incidence is increasing, with sun exposure identified as a key modifiable risk factor. The Atlantic provinces of Canada display varied CM incidence rates: New Brunswick aligns with the national average, while Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island exceed it, and Newfoundland and Labrador fall below this benchmark. We investigated the relationship between sun exposure and CM in these provinces. Twenty-two focus groups encompassing 95 Atlantic Canada residents were conducted and transcribed. A thematic analysis was conducted in MAXQDA using the social–ecological model as a framework. Residents of high-CM incidence provinces demonstrated greater sun exposure awareness, consulting UV indices, and using sunscreen and sun-protective clothing. However, they received greater UV exposure due to warmer climates and outdoor work and cultural activities. Conversely, those in low-incidence provinces used sunscreen and sun-protective clothing less often, engaged in occupations and hobbies affording less sun exposure, and lived in cooler climates. Our data supports a possible “sunscreen paradox”, whereby increased sunscreen use is correlated with augmented sun exposure, leading to a deceptive sense of security. Public health initiatives in Atlantic Canada promoting sun safety must address this paradox while integrating community-specific behaviors and norms in order to develop tailored campaigns.
全球范围内，皮肤黑色素瘤（CM）发病率持续上升，其中日晒被确定为关键的可调控风险因素。加拿大东部沿海各省的CM发病率存在差异：新不伦瑞克省与全国平均水平持平，而新斯科舍省和爱德华王子岛省高于全国水平，纽芬兰与拉布拉多省则低于这一基准。本研究旨在探究这些省份中日晒与CM之间的关系。研究共组织了22个焦点小组，涵盖95名大西洋省份居民，并对讨论内容进行了转录。我们以社会生态模型为框架，使用MAXQDA软件进行了主题分析。结果显示，高CM发病率省份的居民表现出更强的日晒防护意识，会参考紫外线指数，并更频繁地使用防晒霜和防晒衣物。然而，由于气候较温暖、户外工作及文化活动较多，他们实际接受的紫外线暴露也更高。相反，低发病率省份的居民使用防晒霜和防晒衣物的频率较低，从事的职业和爱好日晒较少，且生活在气候较凉爽的地区。我们的数据支持了可能存在的“防晒霜悖论”，即防晒霜使用量的增加与日晒暴露增多相关，从而导致一种虚假的安全感。大西洋省份促进日晒安全的公共卫生行动必须正视这一悖论，同时结合社区特定的行为习惯和社会规范，以制定有针对性的宣传策略。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家