Recommendations

People have the right to be involved in discussions and make informed decisions about their care, as described in NICE's information on making decisions about your care.

Making decisions using NICE guidelines explains how we use words to show the strength (or certainty) of our recommendations, and has information about prescribing medicines (including off‑label use), professional guidelines, standards and laws (including on consent and mental capacity), and safeguarding.

In February 2016, recommendations 1 to 5 were updated and replaced by NICE's guideline on sunlight exposure: risks and benefits.

The guidance complements, but does not replace, NICE guidance on detecting and treating skin cancer.

Introduction

This is NICE's formal guidance on skin cancer: prevention using public information, sun protection resources and changes to the environment. When writing the recommendations, the Public Health Interventions Advisory Committee (PHIAC; see appendix A) considered the evidence reviews, expert papers, economic analysis and comments from stakeholders and experts. Full details are available online.

The evidence statements underpinning the recommendations are listed in appendix C.

PHIAC considers that the recommended measures are cost effective.

See the recommendations for research and gaps in the evidence.

What the guidance covers

This guideline covers provision of shade as part of the design of new buildings (recommendation 6). The original recommendations 1 to 5 have been replaced by NICE's guideline on sunlight exposure: risks and benefits.

What the guidance does not cover

There are no recommendations on the following interventions as they were found not to be cost effective:

  • specific multi‑component interventions (for example, combining information with resources such as hats or sunscreen)

  • the addition of shade structures to existing buildings.

In addition, there are no recommendations on the use of non‑information related resources alone (such as protective clothing or sunscreen). The absence of recommendations in this area is a result of a lack of evidence (no studies were identified). It should not be taken as a judgement on whether or not such interventions are effective and cost effective.

The following interventions were excluded as they were not part of the remit for this guidance:

  • Policy, fiscal or legislative actions (such as banning unsupervised or coin‑operated sunbed facilities or reducing VAT on sunscreen products).

  • Clinical diagnosis and the detection, treatment and management of skin cancer alongside activities to prevent its re‑occurrence.

Behaviour change

The principles outlined in NICE's guideline on behaviour change: general approaches were used as the basis for making recommendations on how to change people's health‑related behaviours. That guidance highlights the need for careful planning that takes into account the local and national context and the needs of the target community. It advises building upon the existing skills and resources within a community, and ensuring practitioners have the necessary competencies and skills to support behaviour change. The guidance also recommends evaluating interventions and programmes thoroughly.

Whose health will benefit?

This guidance does not exclude anybody. However, some groups are more likely to benefit (for example, outdoor workers, those who are immune‑suppressed, children and young people and those who use sunbeds).

Recommendations 1 to 5

These recommendations have been replaced by NICE's guideline on sunlight exposure: risks and benefits.

Recommendation 6 Providing shade

Who should take action?

Architects, designers, developers, planners and employers.

What action should they take?

  • When designing and constructing new buildings, consider providing areas of shade created either artificially or naturally (for example, by trees).

  • When developing or redeveloping communal outdoor areas, check whether it is feasible to provide areas of shade. Shade could be created by constructing a specific structure or by planting trees.

  • For all new developments, ensure there is adequate access to areas of shade for people with a disability.