Public Health: The Slip-Slop-Slap Campaign - Case Study Example

Public Health: The Slip-Slop-Slap Campaign Overview Campaigners define public health as the art and science of preventing diseases, protracting lives, and promoting wellness. They argue that this can be achieved through an organized effort where informed choices are made for the good of the society as a whole. At this point, it is important to appreciate that a society is constituted of individuals, communities, and organizations. Campaigners see all these as important players on the subject of public health since this subject is concerned with the threats to their wellbeing based on health analysis. A population may be composed of a handful of inhabitants or a large group of people (Murphy, 2012). Public health campaigners argue that health dimensions encompass states of complete social, mental, and physical wellbeing, and not a mere absence of infirmity or disease. This is why they regard it as one which is comprised of biostatistics, epidemiology, as well as health services. According to them, other important divisions include community health, behavioral health, environmental health, public policy, health economics, occupational health, and insurance medicine (Liang, 2010). This report is about the Slip-Slop-Slap campaign, a campaign that has mainly been taking place in Australia since 1981 (The Council, 1989). The Slip-Slop-Slap Campaign Slip-Slop-Slap refers to an internationally recognized and iconic campaign which is aimed at protecting the citizens of the world from the harmful radiations from the sun. The campaign was most popular during the 1980s, and most of the activities happened to be taking place in Australia. Cancer Council Victoria is credited with the launching of the campaign at the start of 1981. The campaign has been designed in a manner that features dancing and singing Sid Seagull, and its main objective is to encourage individuals to minimize their exposure to the sun rays. It is believed that such a precaution would enable the society protect itself from the increasing rate of skin cancer infections (Stockfleth et al., 2010). Sid encouraged Australians to slip on long-sleeved attire, slop on sunscreen, and slap on hats. This program proved to be a success mainly because of the manner in which the public embraced it. Indeed, much of the funding was acquired through donations from the members of the public. Such willingness enabled the campaigners to proceed with their initiatives unabatedly. The campaign prompted similar crusades in several other countries in the western world. Nevertheless, enthusiasm varied from one society to another (Schliemann & Elsner, 2007). International Response In all the countries where the campaign was and has been going on, it has been noted that different communities hold divergent views on its desirability as well as success. For instance, while the members of the white communities considered it as being an essential campaign, not many dark-skinned individuals embraced it. Dark-skinned individuals have natural protection from the sun rays, especially in the regions where harmful levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiations have not been detected (Lynch, 2009). During its later years, the Slip-Slop-Slap Campaign has been extended in order to encourage in individuals to use shades and sunglasses. This initiative has widely been propagated by an organization called the Sun-Smart. The message then becomes: “Slip on the shirts, Slop on 30-plus sunscreens, Slap on hats, Seek shelter or shade, Slide on sunnies.” - "Slip-Slop-Slap-Seek-Slide" By now, most people in Australia have responded positively to the skin cancer awareness message. The campaign can, therefore, be considered to be a success since it has been influencing the Australians’ psyche. Slip-Slop-Slap, and now Wrap, has been widely popular in New Zealand. In New Zealand, the mascot has widely been regarded as a unique lobster, and has been voiced as What Now by Ants. In a number of Canadian cities, campaigners have adopted their personalized versions of Slip-Slop-Slap slogans which they consider as being easily selling in that North American country (Schwartz, 2008). Effectiveness of the Campaign Since the campaign commenced, there have been numerous advertisements and jingles. The campaign has been regarded as a success since the incidences of two of the most commonly occurring forms of cancers have been on a sharp decline. The two include the squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. Reports of the decline are some of the issues which inspire more and more individuals to give heed to the campaigners’ messages (Stockfleth et al., 2010). At this point, it is important to appreciate that the reported cases of another lethal skin cancer form have been on the increase. This form is referred to as the melanoma. A series of epidimological studies which have been conducted since the year 2002 have concluded that the rise of melanoma cases is not associated with the application of sun creams. Most of them have concluded that there is need to continue the campaigns since they may eventually facilitate the reduction of the instances of melanoma form of cancer in the end (Cancer Council, 1998). With the experience of over 25 years of the prevention of skin cancer, Australia has witnessed a broad-based and multifaceted education programs focused on the members of the public. The programs are hoped to make a significant impact on the improvement of the society’s protective behaviors as well as the reduction of sunburn. Sunburn has always been regarded as being a short-term instigator of risks associated with skin cancer (Cancer Council, 1998). The declining incidences of skin cancer amongst the younger cohorts, together with carefully conducted economic assessments, have shown that the preventive programs are worthwhile investments. In fact, most campaigners have been encouraging the government to increase its funding on such programs, especially because the public has embraced those strategies (Casarett & Klaassen, 2001). The Need for Optimized Exposures It has been concluded that the modern practice of public health necessitate the actions of multidisciplinary teams. These teams ought to be constituted of professionals who include physicians specialized in community medicine, public health, and infectious diseases. Such professionals include biostatisticians, epidemiologists, medical microbiologists, public health nurses, public health inspectors, pharmacists, nutritionists, as well as communications experts (Murphy, 2012). Having such a diversified group would enable the campaigners acquire an adequate level of information which would then enable them address the issues at hand with precision. This section indicates why it is important to establish a balance between exposure and protection, and much of the information utilized here indicates that there is need to establish a convergence of the views of individuals who hold varied professional knowledge (Heinz, 2006). The UV radiation from the sun has been regarded as being a significant cause of the cancer of the skin. Nonetheless, individuals are taught on the importance of having limited exposure to sun light since the same sun light is a natural source of a factor of metabolism that is regarded as vitamin D. This means that the risks associated with skin cancer and the need to vitamin D ought to be balanced so that individuals are exposed to sunlight at optimum levels only (Heinz, 2006). Campaigners agree that the common sunscreens may have the capacity to block solar induced productions entirely, and especially the production of an essential component referred to as cutaneous pre-vitamin. Nonetheless, the need to for limited exposure to sunlight is evident, and this means that the message that the campaigners advocate for have to be balanced carefully. Sunscreen users are also cautioned against trusting these products to the point of over-exposing themselves to sunrays. Indeed, a number of studies have concluded that some users of these products tend to disregard the need to controlling exposure, say, through the use of long-sleeved clothing, hats, and sun glasses (Chew & Maibach, 2006). Most medical practitioners have been recommending the spending of reduced intervals of time. Individuals ought to, actually, spend some time in the sun without protection, and this is especially in cases where the UV index has been proved to be below three. This does actually ensure that the individuals’ bodies are able to produce adequate amounts of vitamin D. Professionals argues that during the instances when the UV index happens to be greater than level 3, adequate production of vitamin D is possible within 10 to 15 minutes of exposure (Casarett & Klaassen, 2001). Within the tropics, level 3 is exceeded on daily basis, while in the temperate regions; this level is exceeded during summer and spring seasons. This information is important since it guides the members of the society on how to take care of their health without hindering the benefits of limited exposure. The goal of this campaign is to mitigate the root causes of the cancer of the skin. As it has been indicated earlier, Slip-Slop-Slap campaign has been adopted in several other countries, through the scale of adoption varies (Chew & Maibach, 2006). Conclusion This report has assessed the activities of Slip-Slop-Slap campaigners with regard to the endeavors aimed at curbing the cases of skin cancer. The report has explicated the strategies which the campaigners consider to be effective in reducing exposure to harmful rays of the sun. Excessive exposure is believed to be among the main causes of skin cancer, and this is why the campaigners encourage individuals to cover their bodies as much as possible (Chew & Maibach, 2006). Individuals are also encouraged to make us of sun creams, especially on those parts of the body that clothes do not cover. This report does also indicate that campaigners appreciate the need for limited exposure. This is because human beings require about fifteen minutes of exposure per week since such exposures prompt the production of vitamin D. Having said that, the campaigns are conducted by individuals drawn from a variety of professions so that they messages can be based on facts (Heinz, 2006). References Cancer Council (1998). Slip, Slop, Slap and Save Your Skin: Seymour Snowman Skin Protection English Unit Stages 2 & 3 : Lesson Notes, Blackline Masters & Teacher Reference Sheets. Melbourne: Pearson Education Casarett, L.J. & Klaassen, C.D. (2001). Casarett and Doull's Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons. London: McGraw Hill Professional Chew, A.L. & Maibach, H.I. (2006). Irritant Dermatitis. London: Springer. Heinz, V. L. (2006). Skin Cancer: New Research. New York: Nova Publishers Liang, Q. Leung, A.K.C., Furth, C. (2010). Health and Hygiene in Chinese East Asia: Policies and Publics in the Long Twentieth Century. Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press Lynch, E. (2009). Star Phonics Set 7: Slip, Slap, Slop. London: United Kingdom: Pearson Education Murphy, F. (2012). Community Engagement, Organization, and Development for Public Health Practice. New York: Springer Publishing Company Schliemann, S. & Elsner, P. (2007). Skin Protection: Practical Applications in the Occupational Setting ; 20 Tables. Melbourne: Karger Publishers Schwartz, R.A. (2008). Skin Cancer: Recognition and Management. London: John Wiley & Sons Stockfleth, E., Rosen, T., Schumack, S. (2010). Managing Skin Cancer. London: Springer The Council (1989). Sunsmart, Slip! Slop! Slap!: The Anti-Cancer Council's Skin Cancer Control Program, 1988-89. Canberra: Pearson Education Read More