title: Evaluation of a three-year school-based intervention to increase adolescent sun protection.
abstract: The efficacy of a school-based intervention was evaluated using a randomized controlled trial in Australia. In consecutive grades (8, 9, and 10), students in the intervention group received components of a program that addressed issues related to the need to protect yourself from the sun, behavioral strategies related to using sun-protective measures, personal and social images of having a tan, the use of sun-safe clothing, and how to change their schools through forms of structural change. Pre- and postintervention measures among junior high school students showed greatest improvement in the intervention group's knowledge scores and minimal changes in sun protection behavior from Grade 8 to Grade 9, which were not maintained through Grade 10. Results of the study highlight some limitations of school-based interventions for changing sun protection behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Promotion and Cancer Prevention Research, Medical School, University of Queensland, Australia. j.lowe@mailbox.uq.edu.au
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Balanda
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Stanton
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gillespie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001315:Australia; D003479:Curriculum; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care; D012572:School Health Services; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013471:Sunburn / Q000517:prevention & control*