Melanoma incidence is rising globally and mortality is still high. Although new treatments for advanced melanoma now extend life, their costs are extremely high. Collectively, melanoma and keratinocyte skin cancers (KCs) incur a large societal burden. Preventing skin cancer requires appropriate and ongoing investment and support of governments and interest groups to promote and ensure sun protection messages, knowledge and interventions reach all communities and their benefits do not wane over time.
Using a mathematical population model, we performed an economic evaluation of the SunSmart program in WA versus no program, taking a societal perspective. The WA SunSmart program includes a) public education campaigns to improve awareness, knowledge and attitudes towards UV exposure and promote behaviour modification b) promotion of shaded areas in public places; and c) policy-based initiatives. The model combined data from pragmatic trial evidence of sun protection, epidemiological studies, and national cost reports.
Over the next 20 years, the model predicted that implementing the WA SunSmart program would prevent 13,728 KCs, 636 melanomas and 46 melanoma deaths per 100,000 population. Furthermore, 251 life years would be saved, 358 quality-adjusted life years gained and AU$2.95m cost-savings to society per 100,000 population. Mean annual cost savings of $33 million were predicted in avoided healthcare costs and productivity losses. For the WA Government, the estimated return on investment was $8.70 gained for every $1 invested.
Investment in a multi-component sun safety program, that encourages sun protection practices, substantially reduces skin cancers and their associated health system and broader societal costs.