Submission ID 129803
| Issue/Objective | Nunavik's circumpolar location is characterized by prolonged summer daylight and high ultraviolet (UV) reflection from snow and ice. This places its residents at elevated risk of melanoma, while inflammatory skin diseases such as eczema impose additional psychosocial strain, amid extremely limited access to specialized dermatological care. Therefore, an integrated understanding of sun-exposure practices, cancer awareness, and lived experiences is essential to guide culturally safe and respectful interventions. |
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| Methodology/Approach | The present study used a convergent mixed-methods design that combined a cross-sectional survey, the Sun Exposure & Behavior Inventory (SEBI), completed by 541 Inuit residents and 21 focus groups (63 participants) across Salluit, Kuujjuaraapik, Kuujjuaq, and Inukjuak, with participants aged ≥16. Data analysis: Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Qualitative transcripts were analyzed inductively within the Social & Emotional Well-Being framework. The First Nations principles of OCAP® and institutional ethics approvals were followed. |
| Results | Sun-protection behaviors & melanoma awareness: Product-based measures were much lower than Canadian reference cohorts: sunscreen use 19.5%, shade seeking 28.7%, hat use 31.5% (vs 75.0%, 75.6% and 57.9%, respectively), while clothing-based protection remained higher (long sleeves 62.1%, sunglasses 56.3%). Concern over suspicious mole changes was 20-27 % lower, and 41% of respondents believed a "base tan" protected against UV radiation. Men's sunscreen use was low (OR 0.50), yet they were more than twice as likely to wear hats (OR 2.14). Higher education was found to be associated with greater sunscreen and sunglasses use as well as a higher vigilance for moles. Psychosocial impact of eczema: Focus-group data subsequently revealed that patients were driven by stigma to conceal their lesions. Our discussion also revealed both systemic and emotional burdens: the high emotional strain experienced by caregivers and the alienation of the patients when travelling south for care. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | This study reveals that northern Indigenous communities face a dual challenge: high UV exposure with sub-optimal sun-safety practices and a substantial psychological impact from skin diseases such as eczema. By integrating these quantitative risk profiles with qualitative insights, we can develop dermatologic services, including culturally tailored education and community-led photoprotection initiatives, to improve skin-health outcomes in northern Indigenous populations. |
| Presenters and Affiliations | William Chow McGill Ivan Litvinov McGill |
