title: Sun Protection is Fun! A skin cancer prevention program for preschools.
abstract: Children and their caregivers are prime candidates for intervention to curb the rising incidence of skin cancer in the United States. Preschools provide a unique opportunity to influence the sun protection practices of parents and teachers on behalf of young children. Sun Protection is Fun!, a comprehensive skin cancer prevention program developed by The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in collaboration with The University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center School of Public Health, was introduced to preschools in the greater Houston area. The program's intervention methods are grounded in Social Cognitive Theory and emphasize symbolic modeling, vicarious learning, enactive mastery experiences, and persuasion. Program components include a curriculum and teacher's guide, videos, newsletters, handbooks, staff development, group meetings designed to encourage schoolwide changes to support the program, and sunscreen. The intervention map, including objectives for program development, implementation, and evaluation, is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Behavioral Science, Box 243, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA. mtripp@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Tripp
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Parcel
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Chamberlain
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Gritz
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003479:Curriculum; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005178:Faculty; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010290:Parents; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects; D013664:Teaching Materials; D013781:Texas