Promoting sun safety among zoo visitors.
BACKGROUND
Each year, millions of children visit zoological parks, where they are exposed to long bouts of ultraviolet radiation (UVR). We conducted a study in the winter and replicated it in the summer to evaluate an intervention for reducing UVR exposure during the zoo visit.


METHODS
Each study used a nonequivalent control group design: one zoological site received the intervention and a second received evaluation only. Key outcome measures consisted of observed prevalence of hat use by exiting children (N = 8,721 and 8,524, respectively, in winter and summer studies) and purchase rates of sunscreen and hats in zoo gift shops. Intervention consisted of tip sheets for parents, children's activities, prompts, and discounts off the price of sunscreen and sun-protective hats.


RESULTS
In the summer study, sales of both sunscreen and target hats increased significantly at the intervention site relative to the control site, whereas in the winter study, only sunscreen sales at the intervention site had a significant (relative) increase. Children's hat use increased significantly at the intervention site, but only in the winter study.


CONCLUSIONS
The multicomponent program was effective in promoting purchases of sun-safe items, but its impact on children's hat use was inconclusive.
Mayer
J A
JA
Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, California 92182-4162, USA. jmayer@mail.sdsu.edu
Lewis
E C
EC
Eckhardt
L
L
Slymen
D
D
Belch
G
G
Elder
J
J
Engelberg
M
M
Eichenfield
L
L
Achter
A
A
Nichols
T
T
Walker
K
K
Kwon
H
H
Talosig
M
M
Gearen
C
C
D002140:California; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D019370:Observation; D011481:Protective Clothing; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012621:Seasons; D013471:Sunburn / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents
D013473:Sunscreening Agents