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Online videos to promote sun safety: Results of a contest

  • Annelise L. Dawson
  • , Ashley A. Hamstra
  • , Laura Sturgess Huff
  • , Ryan G. Gamble
  • , William Howe
  • , Ilima Kane
  • , Robert P. Dellavalle

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Seventy-percent of Americans search health information online, half of whom access medical content on social media websites. In spite of this broad usage, the medical community underutilizes social media to distribute preventive health information. This project aimed to highlight the promise of social media for delivering skin cancer prevention messaging by hosting and quantifying the impact of an online video contest. In 2010 and 2011, we solicited video submissions and searched existing YouTube videos. Three finalists were selected and ranked. Winners were announced at national dermatology meetings and publicized via a contest website. Afterwards, YouTube view counts were monitored. No increase in video viewing frequency was observed following the 2010 or 2011 contest. This contest successfully identified exemplary online sun safety videos; however, increased viewership remains to be seen. Social media offers a promising outlet for preventive health messaging. Future efforts must explore strategies for enhancing viewership of online content.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere9
JournalDermatology Reports
Volume3
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011
Externally publishedYes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

  • Internet
  • Skin cancer prevention
  • Social media
  • Tanning
  • YouTube

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