Promoting Sun Protection in Elementary Schools and Child Care Settings: The SunSafe Project

Abstract

Elementary schools and child care settings in rural New Hampshire participated in a sun protection program that reached more than 4,200 children. The program was part of a successful multifaceted community intervention targeting children ages 2-9. Program components included curricular materials, training and support for school/child care staff, and parent outreach. Evaluation showed good uptake of the curriculum by teachers and child care providers, improvements in sun protection policy in participating schools and child care settings, and significant knowledge and attitude improvements in fourth grade children tested, as well as actual behavior change. The study highlighted the importance of flexible, developmentally appropriate curricular materials and active engagement of principals and directors in policy review. In addition, for parent outreach programs to be successful, children needed to participate.

Melanoma Incidence in Children and Adolescents: Decreasing Trends in the United States

“…This trend likely represents a true reduction in disease incidence, but decreased screening/diagnosis or under-reporting to SEER registries could potentially contribute. Screening efforts 29 and public education efforts [30][31][32] have been ongoing over the past 20 years, and there is no indication that screening efforts would have decreased. Studies evaluating SEER reporting have focused on cases from the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s.…”

“…Decreased ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure almost certainly plays a key role, as UVR has a strong association with melanoma. 37 Such decreases in UVR exposure in teenagers could be the result of effective public health initiatives, [30][31][32] increased rates of regular use of sunscreen and wearing of protective clothing in the summer, 38 decreased time spent outdoors, or decreased prevalence of indoor tanning. 39,40 In Australia, similar public health programs were instituted approximately 20 years prior to our efforts in the US; decreasing incidence trends in the pediatric population were subsequently found from the mid-1990s to 2006.…”

Children’s sun exposure and sun protection: Prevalence in Australia and related parental factors

“…12,29,[42][43][44][45][46] Clinicians might counsel parents about providing good sun-protection role models for their children. Further evidence of the efficacy of these and other strategies involving parent role models is needed.…”

Effects of a Preschool Staff Intervention on Children's Sun Protection: Outcomes of Sun Protection Is Fun!

“…Improvements in hat and sunscreen policies in intervention day cares were noted for the community-wide Sun Safe Project (Grant-Petersson, Dietrich, Sox, Winchell, & Stevens, 1999), but child care center interventions incorporated within community approaches to sun protection have not been evaluated for their independent effects on sun-protection practices (Dietrich, Olson, Sox, Tosteson, & Grant-Petersson, 2000;Miller, Geller, Wood, Lew, & Koh, 1999). The Be Sun Safe preschool intervention for 4-year-olds and 5-year-olds improved children's knowledge and comprehension, but the study was not designed to evaluate behavioral outcomes (Loescher, Emerson, Taylor, Christensen, & McKinney, 1995).…”