Health Promotion for Sun Protection: A Community Approach in a Mountain Setting
Alessandra Buja, Sandro Cinquetti, Marco Coller, Angela Padoin, Chiara Trevisiol, Ilaria Pantaleo, Claudio Palmeri, Vincenzo Marcotrigiano, Erica Bino, Silvia Flesia, Simone Mocellin
Buja, Alessandra, Sandro Cinquetti, Marco Coller, Angela Padoin, Chiara Trevisiol, Ilaria Pantaleo, Claudio Palmeri, Vincenzo Marcotrigiano, Erica Bino, Silvia Flesia, and Simone Mocellin. Health promotion for sun protection: a community approach in a mountain setting.
Objective:
Alpine regions exhibit high incidence rates of cutaneous melanoma due to increased ultraviolet radiation at higher altitudes. In 2022, the “Montagna SÌ, Melanoma NO” (Mountain YES, Melanoma NO) public health campaign began promoting sun-protective behaviors in these areas. This study aims to evaluate an intervention’s effectiveness 3 years after its launch and assess improvements in sun safety practices.
Methods:
A before-and-after comparative study was conducted by surveying a random sample of 229 Belluno residents in the Veneto Region, Italy, in 2022, and 115 of those same individuals in 2025 using a standardized questionnaire. Data on sociodemographics, phenotypic characteristics, sun exposure habits, sunscreen use, protective clothing/eyewear usage, and campaign awareness were collected.
Results:
In 2025, 43% of respondents (95% CI: 33.44%–52.17%) reported being aware of the health promotion efforts. A significant increase in sunscreen application during outdoor activities lasting more than 1 hour and during skiing was detected. Nevertheless, other protective measures, such as the use of caps and sunglasses, did not demonstrate any significant improvement.
Conclusions:
The campaign was effective. It reached its target population and improved sun-protective behaviors, confirming the value of community-engaged, tailored health promotion strategies. Further initiatives are necessary to address the remaining gaps in melanoma prevention adherence.