Sun Protection Program for Outdoor Workers

(GSSG Trial)

Overseen By Radhika Agarwal

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Emory University

Disqualifiers: Pregnant, Prisoners, Cognitively impaired, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if the Go Sun Smart Georgia (GSSG) program can improve sun protection habits among outdoor workers in Southwest Georgia. The study will compare workers who begin the program immediately with those who start later to assess its impact. Participants will complete surveys, and some will participate in interviews. The trial seeks outdoor workers who spend at least five hours outside each week and understand English. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to important research that could enhance sun safety for outdoor workers.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that the Go Sun Smart Georgia program is safe for outdoor workers?

Research has shown that a similar sun safety program, called Go Sun Smart, successfully increased awareness and reduced sunburns among outdoor workers at ski areas. This suggests that the Go Sun Smart Georgia program is likely safe and easy for participants to manage. No reports of harmful effects from the program itself exist. It focuses on teaching sun protection and does not involve taking medicine or undergoing medical procedures. Therefore, it is generally considered safe for participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Sun Protection Program for Outdoor Workers because it focuses on implementing the Go Sun Smart Georgia (GSSG) protocol. Unlike traditional sun protection methods, which often rely on individual actions like applying sunscreen or wearing hats, GSSG is a workplace-based intervention that aims to create a culture of sun safety among outdoor workers. This program involves educating workers and employers about sun protection, which could lead to more consistent and collective sun safety practices. By targeting sun safety at the organizational level, GSSG has the potential to significantly reduce skin cancer risks among outdoor workers, making it a promising approach in occupational health.

What evidence suggests that the Go Sun Smart Georgia program is effective for improving sun protection behavior in outdoor workers?

Studies have shown that the Go Sun Smart Georgia (GSSG) program effectively helps outdoor workers protect themselves from the sun. Research indicates that the original Go Sun Smart program reduced skin cancer risks by promoting better sun safety habits. The program has been adapted for different groups, including African American and Hispanic outdoor workers, and has successfully improved their sun protection practices. When used in outdoor places like winter recreational areas, the program increased awareness and use of sun protection among employees. This trial will compare two different implementation timelines of the GSSG program: the Early Intervention arm, where GSSG will be implemented from May to August 2024, and the Delayed Intervention arm, where it will be implemented from August to December 2024. This evidence supports the potential of GSSG to improve sun safety behaviors in outdoor workers in Georgia. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Alexandra Morshed, PhD

Principal Investigator

Rollins School of Public Health

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for outdoor workers in Southwest Georgia. Participants should be employed at worksites willing to implement the Go Sun Smart Georgia program and participate in surveys and interviews. There are no specific inclusion or exclusion criteria provided, suggesting that all employees at participating worksites may be eligible.

Inclusion Criteria

Semi-structured interviews employed by participating worksite closely involved with GSSG implementation and can read and/or clearly understand English

I work outside for 5+ hours weekly at a participating site and understand English.

I am a manager responsible for safety/health policy or training at my workplace and I understand English well.

Exclusion Criteria

Pregnant women

Prisoners

I am unable to give consent for medical procedures.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Early Intervention

GSSG implementation for early intervention group worksites

16 weeks

Multiple visits for training and technical assistance

Delayed Intervention

GSSG implementation for delayed intervention group worksites

16 weeks

Multiple visits for training and technical assistance

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in sun safety behaviors and program effectiveness

16 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Go Sun Smart Georgia (GSSG)

Trial Overview The Go Sun Smart Georgia (GSSG) program's effectiveness is being tested by comparing sun protection behaviors of employees from worksites with the GSSG intervention against those on a wait-list control group. The study involves training, technical assistance, and data collection through surveys and interviews.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Early Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

6 worksites will be enrolled. GSSG implementation in May-August 2024

Group II: Delayed Intervention Active Control 1 Intervention

6 worksites will be enrolled. GSSG implementation in August- December 2024.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Emory University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,735

Recruited

2,605,000+

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Collaborator

Trials

902

Recruited

25,020,000+

Klein Buendel, Inc.

Industry Sponsor

Trials

41

Recruited

20,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The Go Sun Smart (GSS) program showed a decline in usage over time, from an average score of 6.24 immediately after implementation to 4.72 in long-term follow-up, indicating challenges in maintaining sun safety practices.

Ski areas that employed an Enhanced Dissemination Strategy (EDS) maintained higher GSS usage (average score of 6.53) compared to those using a Basic Dissemination Strategy (BDS) (average score of 4.49), suggesting that personal contact and support can enhance the sustainability of sun safety programs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sustainability of the dissemination of an occupational sun protection program in a randomized trial. Buller, DB., Walkosz, BJ., Andersen, PA., et al.[2021]

A 20-month intervention program for outdoor workers resulted in a 15-61% improvement in sun protection habits, with significant increases in sunscreen use and skin self-examination rates after the program.

The most substantial improvements were seen in groups receiving complete and partial interventions, with sunscreen use increasing by 80% and 52% respectively, highlighting the effectiveness of repeated interventions and provision of protective gear.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A graded work site intervention program to improve sun protection and skin cancer awareness in outdoor workers in Israel. Azizi, E., Flint, P., Sadetzki, S., et al.[2019]

The Sun Safe Workplaces (SSW) intervention significantly improved sun safety practices in local government organizations, with more sun safety messages and items observed at intervention sites compared to control groups.

Larger organizations were more successful in implementing sun safety measures, such as providing sunscreen and promoting protective clothing, indicating that size and resources may enhance the effectiveness of occupational health interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Implementation of Occupational Sun Safety at a 2-Year Follow-Up in a Randomized Trial: Comparison of Sun Safe Workplaces Policy Intervention to Attention Control. Buller, DB., Walkosz, BJ., Buller, MK., et al.[2020]

A study of 77 outdoor construction workers found that while most used hats (79%) and sleeved shirts (82%) for sun protection, sunscreen use (29%) and shade-seeking (8%) were much less common, indicating a need for improved sun safety practices.

Fair-skinned workers were more likely to engage in sun protection behaviors, and those working in environments that mandated protective clothing had better sun protection scores, suggesting that workplace policies can enhance sun safety and potentially reduce skin cancer risk.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Outdoor Workers' Use of Sun Protection at Work and Leisure. Peters, CE., Koehoorn, MW., Demers, PA., et al.[2020]

The Sun Safe Workplaces (SSW) intervention significantly increased the adoption of sun protection actions among Colorado public sector employers, with intervention worksites implementing an average of 2.18 actions compared to 1.30 actions at control sites.

The total cost of the intervention was $121,789 over 24 months, resulting in a reasonable per-employee cost of $118 for project staff and $56 for worksites, making it comparable to other workplace health initiatives.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Economic Evaluation of an Intervention Promoting Adoption of Occupational Sun Protection Policies. Meenan, RT., Walkosz, BJ., Buller, DB., et al.[2022]

The Go Sun Smart (GSS) program significantly increased awareness of sun safety among outdoor workers at ski areas, with an odds ratio of 8.27, indicating a strong impact on knowledge about sun protection.

Employees participating in the GSS program reported fewer instances of sunburn, with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.63, suggesting that effective implementation of the program correlates with better sun safety practices.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Randomized trial testing a worksite sun protection program in an outdoor recreation industry. Buller, DB., Andersen, PA., Walkosz, BJ., et al.[2018]

The enhanced dissemination strategy (EDS) for the Go Sun Smart program led to significantly higher usage of sun protection materials among ski areas compared to the basic dissemination strategy (BDS), indicating that more personal engagement improves program implementation.

Managers from ski areas using the EDS reported more frequent communication about sun protection in various formats, such as newsletters and websites, suggesting that ongoing support and interaction are crucial for effective dissemination of health programs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Enhancing industry-based dissemination of an occupational sun protection program with theory-based strategies employing personal contact. Buller, DB., Andersen, PA., Walkosz, BJ., et al.[2021]

Outdoor workers are at high risk for sun-related health issues, with sunburn rates ranging from 50% to 80%, and many workers reported inadequate sun protection behaviors, such as rarely wearing protective clothing or sunscreen.

Sun-safety education programs have been shown to effectively improve sun-protective behaviors among outdoor workers, suggesting that these programs could significantly reduce sunburn rates and enhance overall skin health in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Outdoor workers' sun-related knowledge, attitudes and protective behaviours: a systematic review of cross-sectional and interventional studies. Reinau, D., Weiss, M., Meier, CR., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2818232/

Go Sun Smart - PMC Our theory driven, experimentally tested intervention was successful in reducing employees' risks for skin cancer during and after the ski season. We also ...

2. digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gapha-conference/2025/2025/51/

Evaluating an evidence-based occupational sun safety ... We adapted and tested an existing evidence-based occupational sun safety program—Go Sun Smart Georgia (GSSG)— for African American and Hispanic outdoor workers ...

3. stacks.cdc.gov stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/216098

Healthcare Providers' Sun-Protection Promotion and At ... Healthcare Providers' Sun-Protection Promotion and At-Risk Clients' Skin-Cancer-Prevention Outcomes ... Background. This study aims to determine whether ...

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2925541/

A Replication of Go Sun Smart in Outdoor Winter Recreation Go Sun Smart (GSS), a theory-driven multichannel health communication campaign showed positive effects on sun safety behaviors of employees and guests.

5. ebccp.cancercontrol.cancer.gov ebccp.cancercontrol.cancer.gov/programDetails.do?programId=308006

Go Sun Smart (GSS) Designed to prevent skin cancer through increase awareness and promote sun protection practices. View · SunSafe in the Middle School Years.

6. trialx.com trialx.com/clinical-trials/listings/292964/go-sun-smart-georgia-evaluation/

Go Sun Smart Georgia Evaluation | Clinical Research Trial ... The primary aim is to assess program effectiveness by comparing employee sun protection practices between the employers assigned to the GSSG intervention and ...

7. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-sun-safety-4-2024-82d12

Sun Protection Program for Outdoor Workers (GSSG Trial) Research shows that a similar sun safety program, Go Sun Smart (GSS), increased awareness and reduced sunburns among outdoor workers in ski areas. Additionally, ...

8. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3480017/

a translational study of the Go Sun Smart program - PMC We report an industry-wide translation and dissemination study of Go Sun Smart (GSS), an occupational sun-protection program developed with the National Ski ...