Benefit–Cost Analysis of the Danish Sun Safety Campaign 2007–2015: Cost Savings from Sunburn and Sunbed Use Reduction and Derived Skin Cancer Reductions 2007–2040 in the Danish Population

Brian Køster (), Maria K. H. Meyer (), Jes Søgaard () and Peter Dalum ()
Additional contact information
Brian Køster: Danish Cancer Society
Maria K. H. Meyer: Danish Cancer Society
Jes Søgaard: University of Southern Denmark
Peter Dalum: Danish Cancer Society

PharmacoEconomics - Open, 2020, vol. 4, issue 3, No 4, 419-425

Abstract: Abstract Background Ninety percent of skin cancers are avoidable. In Denmark, 16,500 cases of melanoma and keratinocyte cancers were registered in 2015. The Danish Sun Safety Campaign has campaigned since 2007, targeting overexposure to ultraviolet radiation. During 2007–2015, the key indicators of skin cancer, i.e. sunbed use and sunburn, showed annual reductions of 6% and 1%, respectively. Objectives We aimed to examine the financial savings to society as a result of the campaign reductions in skin cancer cases (2007–2040), and to examine the campaign’s cost–benefit and return on investment (ROI). Methods The analysis is based on existing data: (1) annual population-based surveys regarding the Danish population’s behavior in the sun; (2) skin cancer projections; (3) relative risks of skin cancers from sunburn and sunbed use and (4) historical cancer incidences, combined with new data; (5) benefits from the avoided costs of skin cancer reductions; and (6) the costs of the Danish Sun Safety Campaign. Results The results were based on a reduction of 9000 skin cancer cases, saving €29 million of which €13 million were derived from sunburn reductions and €16 million from reductions in sunbed use. The ROI was €2.18. Conclusion Skin cancer prevention in Denmark is cost effective. Every Euro spent by the Danish Sun Safety Campaign saved the Danish health budget €2.18 in health expenses.

Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s41669-019-00182-x Abstract (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:pharmo:v:4:y:2020:i:3:d:10.1007_s41669-019-00182-x

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/adis/journal/41669

DOI: 10.1007/s41669-019-00182-x

Access Statistics for this article

PharmacoEconomics - Open is currently edited by Timothy Wrightson and Christopher Carswell

More articles in PharmacoEconomics - Open from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().