title: The Environmental Protection Agency's National SunWise School Program: sun protection education in US schools (1999-2000).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Melanoma, the most fatal form of skin cancer, is rising at a rate faster than that of all preventable cancers except lung cancer in the United States. Childhood exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light increases the risk for skin cancer as an adult; thus starting positive sun protection habits early may be key to reducing incidence.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the US Environmental Protection Agency's SunWise School Program, a national, environmental education program for sun safety of children in primary and secondary schools (kindergarten through eighth grade). The program was evaluated with surveys administered to participating students. An identical 18-question, self-administered survey was completed by students (median age, 10 years) in the classroom before and immediately after the SunWise educational program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surveys were completed by students in 40 schools before (pretests; n = 1894) and after the program was presented (post-tests; n = 1815). Significant improvement was noted for the 3 knowledge variables: appropriate type of sunscreen to be used for outdoor play, highest UV Index number, and need for hats and shirts outside. Intentions to play in the shade increased from 73% to 78% (P <.001), with more modest changes in intentions to use sunscreen. Attitudes regarding healthiness of a tan also decreased significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Brief, standardized sun protection education can be efficiently interwoven into school health education and result in improvements in knowledge and positive intentions for sun protection.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors: Alan C
authors: AC
authors: Geller
authors: Maura
authors: M
authors: Cantor
authors: Donald R
authors: DR
authors: Miller
authors: Kristin
authors: K
authors: Kenausis
authors: Kevin
authors: K
authors: Rosseel
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Rutsch
authors: Daniel R
authors: DR
authors: Brooks
authors: Zi
authors: Z
authors: Zhang
authors: Marie France
authors: MF
authors: Demierre
mesh_terms: D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006078:Government Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011336:Probability; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013471:Sunburn / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents; D014481:United States; D014484:United States Environmental Protection Agency
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents