Heading into summer aware and protected

That is why lecturer-researcher Rowie van Drie (Skin Therapy and the research group Oncological Care and Relational Care, Centre of Expertise Health Innovation) is working on a five-year Professional Doctorate study on skin cancer prevention among outdoor workers and people who spend a lot of time outdoors. “We can’t measure whether someone will develop skin cancer in thirty years, but by raising awareness and encouraging behavior change, we hope people will protect themselves better.”

Together with the project team of her Professional Doctorate, stakeholders, and Skin Therapy students, Rowie developed educational materials, videos, presentations, posters, and a UV index board for companies.

Behavioral Change

These solutions were not devised from behind a desk but emerged from interviews, observations, and surveys among outdoor workers such as painters, gardeners, and municipal green maintenance staff. Rowie explains: “Companies employing outdoor workers committed themselves to the study for five years because they genuinely want to achieve behavioral change within their organizations. We also work entirely in co-creation; sometimes I develop something together with the professional field and students build on it, and sometimes it’s the other way around.”

From sunscreen dispenser to hackathon

The study has now entered a new phase. After gathering insights, the team is testing interventions in practice. One of the most striking examples is a pilot in which ten teams are testing a specially developed product that can easily be mounted in a vehicle. “I am currently discussing a license with THUAS”, says Rowie. “This will allow us to roll out the product more widely.” In addition, she is working with companies to explore how such solutions can be implemented on a broader scale.

On June 5, Rowie is organizing a hackathon together with the Dutch Skin Fund (Huidfonds) focused on shade solutions for outdoor workers, once again translating research into practical applications.

Awareness at THUAS

This project clearly demonstrates what THUAS stands for: practice-based research that directly contributes to health and prevention. “Prevention is better than cure”, says Rowie. “Even within our own university, there needs to be more awareness of the risks of UV radiation.”

This ambition aligns with the Sun Safety Covenant (Zonvenant) signed by THUAS, through which the university actively promotes sun safety. With the conclusion of Skin Cancer Awareness Month, Rowie is therefore not only looking back but especially looking ahead. “I hope that in a few years we will see real behavior change among the groups we work with. Not everyone may act on it, but I do hope that those who do, do it properly.”