BACKGROUND: Elementary schools are one potential venue for sun protection interventions that reduce childhood sun exposure. PURPOSE: To assess Year-2 results from a cluster randomized trial promoting hat use at schools. DESIGN: Block randomization was used to assign intervention/control status to participating schools. Data were collected from 2006 to 2008 and analyzed in 2007-2010. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Of the 24 schools in the School District of Hillsborough County, Florida enrolled, 4th-graders were targeted in the first year and followed through their 5th-grade year. INTERVENTION: Classroom sessions were conducted to improve sun protection knowledge, foster more positive attitudes about hat use, and change the subjective norm of wearing hats when at school. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Year-2 outcomes assessed included hat use at school (measured by direct observation), hat use outside of school (measured by self-report) and skin pigmentation and nevi counts (measured for a subgroup of 439 students). RESULTS: The percentage of students observed wearing hats at control schools remained unchanged during the 2-year period (range 0%-2%) but increased significantly at intervention schools (2% at baseline, 41% at end of Year 1, 19% at end of Year 2; p<0.001 for intervention effect). Measures of skin pigmentation, nevi counts, and self-reported use of hats outside of school did not change during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: This intervention increased use of hats at school through Year 2 but had no measurable effect on skin pigmentation or nevi. Whether school-based interventions can ultimately prevent skin cancer is uncertain.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Elementary schools are one potential venue for sun protection interventions that reduce childhood sun exposure. PURPOSE: To assess Year-2 results from a cluster randomized trial promoting hat use at schools. DESIGN: Block randomization was used to assign intervention/control status to participating schools. Data were collected from 2006 to 2008 and analyzed in 2007-2010. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Of the 24 schools in the School District of Hillsborough County, Florida enrolled, 4th-graders were targeted in the first year and followed through their 5th-grade year. INTERVENTION: Classroom sessions were conducted to improve sun protection knowledge, foster more positive attitudes about hat use, and change the subjective norm of wearing hats when at school. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Year-2 outcomes assessed included hat use at school (measured by direct observation), hat use outside of school (measured by self-report) and skin pigmentation and nevi counts (measured for a subgroup of 439 students). RESULTS: The percentage of students observed wearing hats at control schools remained unchanged during the 2-year period (range 0%-2%) but increased significantly at intervention schools (2% at baseline, 41% at end of Year 1, 19% at end of Year 2; p<0.001 for intervention effect). Measures of skin pigmentation, nevi counts, and self-reported use of hats outside of school did not change during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: This intervention increased use of hats at school through Year 2 but had no measurable effect on skin pigmentation or nevi. Whether school-based interventions can ultimately prevent skin cancer is uncertain.
Authors: Jack F Hollis; Michael R Polen; Evelyn P Whitlock; Edward Lichtenstein; John P Mullooly; Wayne F Velicer; Colleen A Redding Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2005-04 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Elizabeth Milne; Peter Jacoby; Billie Giles-Corti; Donna Cross; Robyn Johnston; Dallas R English Journal: Prev Med Date: 2005-12-05 Impact factor: 4.018
Authors: P Autier; J F Doré; M S Cattaruzza; F Renard; H Luther; F Gentiloni-Silverj; E Zantedeschi; M Mezzetti; I Monjaud; M Andry; J F Osborn; A R Grivegnée Journal: J Natl Cancer Inst Date: 1998-12-16 Impact factor: 13.506
Authors: Seft Hunter; Kristen J Wells; Paul B Jacobsen; Ji-Hyun Lee; David Boulware; Kymia Love-Jackson; Rania Abdulla; Richard G Roetzheim Journal: Pediatr Dermatol Date: 2009-07-20 Impact factor: 1.588