Robert P. Dellavalle, MD, PhD, MSPH
Associate Professor of Dermatology and Public Health
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Colorado School of Public Health
1665 Aurora Court
Aurora, CO 80045

Dear Dr. Dellavalle:

We are delighted to join you to develop and implement a project to assess the influence of specialized photography, which highlights hidden skin damage caused by UV exposure, on golfers’ engagement in sun safe behavior. Like you, we recognize the increasing burden of skin cancer rates in Colorado and appreciate the importance of reducing risks from excessive UV exposure among golfers in the state. Your proposed program is novel in that it takes a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to reducing the environmental, policy, educational, and attitudinal factors that increase skin cancer risks among golfers. We are committed to supporting the health and wellness of our golfers, and will eagerly partner with you to successfully execute this important initiative on our golf courses when you receive project funding.

The proposal entails:

1. Dividing participants into 2 groups:

a. Group 1 participants will watch an informative video on the topic of skin cancer prevention through sun safe behavior.

b. Group 2 participants will have their specialized photograph taken in addition to being presented with the informative video .

2. Interventions occurring on mutually agreed upon dates. Members of the project team would visit each of the 6 Aurora public golf courses on 2 separate days:

a. On the first day, 50 recruited golfers would view the informational video only

b. On the second day, 50 recruited golfers to have their specialized photograph taken by trained personnel coupled with viewing the same educational video.

3. Participants receiving $5 gift certificates to their golf course for enrollment in the study and an additional $5 gift certificate for completing a final e-mailed survey in order to ensure a high response rate.

This intervention could potentially be used more extensively in the future to bring about a cultural change towards increased sun safe behavior in the general population. With the recent development of affordable and portable camera systems, this tool will be a valuable asset in promoting sun-safe behaviors at the community and clinical level. Since golfing is an outdoor activity taking place predominantly on the sun exposed terrain, golfers represent a population which may particularly benefit from this intervention.

Our institution is committed to partnering with you to implement this important program and will work to maintain it for the long-term. Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this unique project.