Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39402744›Full record

SynthesisPhotochemistry and photobiology

The extent of public awareness and use of the Global Solar UV Index as a worldwide health promotion instrument to improve sun protection: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Isabelle Kaiser, Annette B Pfahlberg, Maria Lehmann, Esther Buchta, Wolfgang Uter, Olaf Gefeller

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Photochemistry and photobiology. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Avicenna journal of medical biotechnology · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Isabelle KaiserInstitute of Medical Informatics, Biometry, and Epidemiology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-2866-7299
Annette B PfahlbergInstitute of Medical Informatics, Biometry, and Epidemiology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-2234-1215
Maria LehmannInstitute of Medical Informatics, Biometry, and Epidemiology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-9162-7516
Esther BuchtaInstitute of Medical Informatics, Biometry, and Epidemiology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Wolfgang UterInstitute of Medical Informatics, Biometry, and Epidemiology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-4498-3710
Olaf GefellerInstitute of Medical Informatics, Biometry, and Epidemiology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-8985-7582

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Thirty years ago, the Global Solar UV Index (UVI) has been introduced as a health promotion instrument to improve sun protection. We assessed systematically global levels of awareness and use of the UVI as a prerequisite for the preventive effectiveness of this public health tool. We conducted a comprehensive literature search across 10 databases, including PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection, as well as clinical trial registries and gray literature databases. The risk of bias of studies was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for prevalence studies. In addition to narrative and descriptive analysis, we performed meta-analyses with geographical subgroup analyses to statistically summarize the results. In total, we identified 40 publications from 39 different studies across multiple global regions. However, the number of studies in the analyses varies depending on the outcome. The results, especially the awareness of the UVI, were largely dependent on the specific geographical location of the studies. While the prevalence of awareness of the UVI is high among Australian populations, there is considerable variability in levels of awareness across other global regions. At the same time, the use of the UVI is at a low level across all regions, demonstrating the need for enhanced dissemination of knowledge about the perils associated with ultraviolet radiation and the advantages of using the UVI.

Indexed as

Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHealth PromotionSunlightUltraviolet RaysAwarenessGlobal HealthHumansawarenessmeta‐analysissun protectionsystematic reviewuseUV Index

Identifiers

PMID39402744
PMCPMC12080879

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.