OBJECTIVE: Rising rates of skin cancer associated with early-life sun exposure make it important to improve adolescent sun-protection practices. Our study objective was to determine if a multicomponent community-wide intervention could alter the decline in sun protection that begins in early adolescence. METHODS: A randomized, controlled trial was conducted in 10 communities to assess the impact of the SunSafe in the Middle School Years program. The intervention sought to (1) educate and activate adults and peers to role model and actively promote sun-protection practices and (2) create a pro-sun protection community environment. It targeted school personnel, athletic coaches, lifeguards, and clinicians and enlisted teens as peer advocates. Annual observations of cross-sectional samples of teens at community beach/pool sites were used to assess the impact of 1 and 2 years of intervention exposure compared to grade-matched controls. The outcome was percent of body surface protected by sunscreen, clothing, or shade. RESULTS: Observers determined the sun protection level of 1927 adolescents entering 6th to 8th grades. After 2 years of intervention exposure, adolescents at the beach/pool in intervention communities were significantly better protected than those in control communities. Over 2 years, the percent of body surface area protected declined by 23% in the control arm but only 8% in intervention arm. After intervention, the average percent of body surface protected at intervention sites (66.1%) was significantly greater than control sites (56.8%). Teens in intervention communities reported sun-protection advice from more adult sources, were more likely to use sunscreen, and applied it more thoroughly than control-site teens. CONCLUSIONS: Our multicomponent model addressing adolescent sun protection shows the power of engaging teens and adults from across the community as role models and educators. This new ecological approach shows promise in changing adolescent sun protection behaviors and reducing skin cancer risks.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: Rising rates of skin cancer associated with early-life sun exposure make it important to improve adolescent sun-protection practices. Our study objective was to determine if a multicomponent community-wide intervention could alter the decline in sun protection that begins in early adolescence. METHODS: A randomized, controlled trial was conducted in 10 communities to assess the impact of the SunSafe in the Middle School Years program. The intervention sought to (1) educate and activate adults and peers to role model and actively promote sun-protection practices and (2) create a pro-sun protection community environment. It targeted school personnel, athletic coaches, lifeguards, and clinicians and enlisted teens as peer advocates. Annual observations of cross-sectional samples of teens at community beach/pool sites were used to assess the impact of 1 and 2 years of intervention exposure compared to grade-matched controls. The outcome was percent of body surface protected by sunscreen, clothing, or shade. RESULTS: Observers determined the sun protection level of 1927 adolescents entering 6th to 8th grades. After 2 years of intervention exposure, adolescents at the beach/pool in intervention communities were significantly better protected than those in control communities. Over 2 years, the percent of body surface area protected declined by 23% in the control arm but only 8% in intervention arm. After intervention, the average percent of body surface protected at intervention sites (66.1%) was significantly greater than control sites (56.8%). Teens in intervention communities reported sun-protection advice from more adult sources, were more likely to use sunscreen, and applied it more thoroughly than control-site teens. CONCLUSIONS: Our multicomponent model addressing adolescent sun protection shows the power of engaging teens and adults from across the community as role models and educators. This new ecological approach shows promise in changing adolescent sun protection behaviors and reducing skin cancer risks.
Authors: Stephen W Dusza; Allan C Halpern; Jaya M Satagopan; Susan A Oliveria; Martin A Weinstock; Alon Scope; Marianne Berwick; Alan C Geller Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2012-01-23 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Katherine D Hoerster; Joni A Mayer; Susan I Woodruff; Vanessa Malcarne; Scott C Roesch; Elizabeth Clapp Journal: J Am Acad Dermatol Date: 2007-07-19 Impact factor: 11.527
Authors: Paramjit K Sandhu; Randy Elder; Mona Patel; Mona Saraiya; Dawn M Holman; Frank Perna; Robert A Smith; David Buller; Craig Sinclair; Anthony Reeder; Jennifer Makin; Bronwen McNoe; Karen Glanz Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2016-10 Impact factor: 5.043
Authors: Lori A Crane; Nancy L Asdigian; Anna E Barón; Jenny Aalborg; Alfred C Marcus; Stefan T Mokrohisky; Tim E Byers; Robert P Dellavalle; Joseph G Morelli Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2012-10 Impact factor: 5.043
Authors: David B Buller; Suzanne Dobbinson; Dallas R English; Melanie Wakefield; Mary Klein Buller Journal: Contemp Clin Trials Date: 2017-02-07 Impact factor: 2.226
Authors: Melanie D Hingle; Aimee L Snyder; Naja E McKenzie; Cynthia A Thomson; Robert A Logan; Eden A Ellison; Stephanie M Koch; Robin B Harris Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2014-07-19 Impact factor: 5.043