Sun Protection Read-Along Books: Assessing the Feasibility of Delivering the Intervention in Pediatrician’s Offices

Abstract

Background: Sun exposure, particularly during childhood, is an important contributing factor in developing melanoma later in life.

How researchers can translate health evidence into books for children

“…The systematic literature review identified nine manuscripts. Four of these described books focused on natural disasters including typhoons, hurricanes and storms ( Sharpe and Izadkhah, 2014 ; Marvida and Tibayan, 2019 ; McKeon, 2020 ; Solfiah et al ., 2020 ), and five related to health messaging including sun safety and juvenile idiopathic arthritis ( Thornton and Piacquadio, 1996 ; McDermott and Lowe, 2003 ; Armstrong, 2012 ; Egert et al ., 2017 ; Robinson et al , 2017 ). None of the identified manuscripts described the development of books for children relating specifically to bushfires or bushfire smoke.…”

“…All manuscripts indicated their primary target audience was children, with age ranges of 2–3 years (as in McDermott and Lowe, 2003 ), 2–6 years (as in Robinson et al ., 2017 ), 5–6 years (as in Solfiah et al ., 2020 ), 5–8 years (as in Armstrong, 2012 ), 8–9 years (as in Thornton and Piacquadio, 1996 ), and the remainder not specifying a specific age range ( Egert et al , 2017 ; Marvida and Tibayan, 2019 ; McKeon, 2020 ). Most authors interviewed who discussed the target age group noted the age ranges of their works were typically dictated by their publisher.…”

“…Most of the manuscripts did not draw from educational, knowledge exchange or other scholarly theory to understand their audience. Robinson et al (2017) applied theory focussing on individual processes, and Armstrong (2012) and Solfiah et al (2020) drew from theory focussing on interaction between individuals. Consultation with carers, clinicians and educators was used to identify needs and knowledge gaps (as in Robinson et al ., 2017 ), appropriate examples of extant media (as in Sharpe and Izadkhah, 2014 ) and expert insight on both substantive content and best practice for developing the book (as in Marvida and Tibayan, 2019 ; McKeon, 2020 ).…”

“…In the manuscripts, parents were typically described in terms of their role as curator, that is procuring and presenting the book to the child (as in Solfiah et al ., 2020 ). Robinson et al (2017) note that parents reading books with health messages aloud with their children has the triple benefit of promoting parent–child bonding, improving the child’s literacy and instilling and reinforcing healthy behaviours in both the parent and the child. In interviews, four authors indicated that their writing accounts for the possibility that parents may be reading the books out loud to their children, thus parents become part of their audience.…”

“…Present in six manuscripts, the most commonly reported intention of the books under development was to impart knowledge to children about a topic that could affect the reader’s health ( McDermott and Lowe, 2003 ; Armstrong, 2012 ; Sharpe and Izadkhah, 2014 ; Egert et al ., 2017 ; Robinson et al ., 2017 ; Solfiah et al ., 2020 ).…”