TY - JOUR
T1 - Regular sunscreen use is a cost-effective approach to skin cancer prevention in subtropical settings
AU - Gordon, Louisa G.
AU - Scuffham, Paul A.
AU - Van Der Pols, Jolieke C.
AU - McBride, Penelope
AU - Williams, Gail M.
AU - Green, Adèle C.
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - In many developed countries, total costs to health systems for cutaneous basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are among the highest of all cancers, yet the investment value of preventive measures remains unknown. Using primary data from a randomized controlled trial, we estimated the cost-effectiveness of a skin cancer prevention initiative based on regular sunscreen use. Compared with usual practice (discretionary use), the sunscreen intervention cost an additional US$106,449 (2007) to prevent 11 BCCs, 24 SCCs, and 838 actinic keratoses among 812 residents over 5 years. These health outcomes required an annual average investment of US$0.74 per person and saved the Australian government a total of US$88,203 in health-care costs over the same period. Such community-based interventions promoting regular sunscreen use among Caucasians in subtropical settings can prevent skin cancer and related skin tumors in practical ways and with great cost efficiency. © 2009 The Society for Investigative Dermatology.
AB - In many developed countries, total costs to health systems for cutaneous basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are among the highest of all cancers, yet the investment value of preventive measures remains unknown. Using primary data from a randomized controlled trial, we estimated the cost-effectiveness of a skin cancer prevention initiative based on regular sunscreen use. Compared with usual practice (discretionary use), the sunscreen intervention cost an additional US$106,449 (2007) to prevent 11 BCCs, 24 SCCs, and 838 actinic keratoses among 812 residents over 5 years. These health outcomes required an annual average investment of US$0.74 per person and saved the Australian government a total of US$88,203 in health-care costs over the same period. Such community-based interventions promoting regular sunscreen use among Caucasians in subtropical settings can prevent skin cancer and related skin tumors in practical ways and with great cost efficiency. © 2009 The Society for Investigative Dermatology.
U2 - 10.1038/jid.2009.141
DO - 10.1038/jid.2009.141
M3 - Article
C2 - 19536149
SN - 1523-1747
VL - 129
SP - 2766
EP - 2771
JO - Journal of Investigative Dermatology
JF - Journal of Investigative Dermatology
IS - 12
ER -
