BACKGROUND: SunSmart is the annual skin cancer prevention awareness campaign run by the National Cancer Control Programme in Ireland. OBJECTIVES: To assess sun protection attitudes following the 2023 campaign and compare findings with those gathered in 2022. METHODS: An online survey was conducted in September 2023, repeating the 2022 survey. Data were collated and analysed. RESULTS: In 2023, 48.0% (n = 481/1002) of adults reported being sunburnt that summer. Younger adults (aged 18-24 years) were more likely than older adults (aged ≥ 55 years) to report sunburn [n = 71/115 (61.7%) vs. n = 99/345 (28.7%)
P <
0.001]. In assessing the 'SunSmart 5Ss', 93.6% (n = 938/1002) rated sunscreen, 88.4% (n = 886/1002) rated shade, 83.9% (n = 841/1002) rated hats, 70.5% (n = 706/1002) rated long sleeves and 70.1% (n = 702/1002) rated sunglasses as important. Older adults were more likely than younger adults to rate each factor as important. A higher proportion reported each factor as important compared with 2022. Awareness of the campaign increased, with 32.2% (n = 323/1002) having heard of SunSmart vs. 20.5% in 2022 (n = 205/1000
P <
0.001). Awareness was higher in older adults than younger adults [n = 135/345 (39.1%) vs. n = 24/115 (20.9%)
P <
0.001], and in those who reported no sunburn [n = 179/521 (34.4%) vs. n = 144/481 (29.9%)
P = 0.02]. CONCLUSIONS: Awareness of the SunSmart campaign and the perceived importance of the sun protection factors have improved since 2022, with the perceived importance of the 'SunSmart 5Ss' being reasonably high. Reaching younger adults and improving their sun protection behaviours remain areas for progress.