A Survey of Sun Protection Policy and Education in Secondary Schools
Document Type
Article
Department
Community and Global Health (CGU)
Publication Date
2006
Disciplines
Dermatology | Health Policy | Medicine and Health Sciences
Abstract
Background
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued recommendations for school programs to reduce skin cancer.
Objective
Personnel at US secondary schools were surveyed to describe sun protection policy and education before the CDC recommendations.
Methods
School principals or other personnel at 484 secondary schools in 27 cities responded to a telephone survey in January and February 2002 (response rate = 31%).
Results
A sun protection policy was reported at 10% of the schools, but sun protection education occurred at nearly all schools (96%). Policies were more prevalent in regions with high ultraviolet radiation (P < .0001), but education was not. Many personnel were willing to adopt a policy (41%) and interested in obtaining a sun safety curriculum (96%).
Limitations
Self-report measures, nonresponse, and new schools not in the sampling frame.
Conclusion
Sun protection was a low policy priority for US schools. Sun safety education was prevalent, but written materials were used infrequently. A substantial proportion of school personnel were receptive to the CDC's advice.
Rights Information
© 2006 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc.
Terms of Use & License Information
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2005.11.1030
Recommended Citation
Buller DB, Buller MK, Reynolds KD. A survey of sun protection education and policy in secondary schools. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 54:427-432, 2006
