Do UV wrist-bands assist in sun protection?

The purpose of this current research project is to test UV indicating bands to ascertain if these bands can facilitate sun protection behaviour. UV bands will change colour from white (inside) to purple (outside) when in the sun indicating sun protection is required. To assess this product we are conducting a cross-sectional study at the Schoolies Event of the Gold Coast. Schoolies or Schoolies week refers to the Australian tradition of year 12 high-school graduates having week-long holidays at the beach following the end of their final exams. The Schoolies event on the Gold Coast being held from November 16th – November 23rd 2019 is coordinated by the Safer Schoolies Initiative through the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women. QUT researchers will work with the Safer Schoolies Initiative and have developed a UV wristband (silicon slider, approximately size of 10 cent coin), which will be incorporated into the design of the 2019 Schoolies event entry wrist-band. The silicon slider to attached to the wristband worn on the wrist. QUT researchers will have a pop-up tent at the registration event and will ask interested Schoolie attendees to consent and participant in the study. Intervention group: At the Schoolies registration event participants aged 15-18 will be recruited into the study. Approximately 20,000 School leavers attend this event each year. Participants are provided with a free tube of sunscreen (Cancer Council, SPF 50+) and will be instructed to use it in-line with the products labeling instructions. All Schoolies receive the UV indicating band regardless of whether they participate in this study. The UV band is also used to gain entry into Schoolies only events and participants must wear the UV band to gain entry. After consent, the participants recruited will also complete a brief baseline Questionnaire (3 minutes). Participants are asked to use the UV band “as they see fit” during the one-week schoolies event. There are no analytics from the wrist band, the wristband is designed that it cannot be removed once worn. No participant diaries. After using the UV band participants will be emailed an evaluation survey assessing satisfaction with the intervention device and self-reported sun protection habits, sunburn and sunscreen use.