Health promotion in childcare centres: a survey of sun protection policy and practice.
OBJECTIVE
To describe sun protection policy and practice in child care centres in the Hunter region of New South Wales (NSW) and examine differences in sun protection policy and practice between those who attended a NSW Cancer Council SunSmart workshop and those who did not.


METHODS
One hundred and seventy-seven Hunter child care centres completed a CATI interview (95% consent rate).


RESULTS
Ninety seven per cent of centres reported having a written sun protection policy (only 5% deemed comprehensive by review). Sun protection policy components were reported more often than sun protection practices. There were no significant differences in policy or practice according to workshop attendance.


CONCLUSIONS
Having a sun protection policy in place does not necessarily translate to sun protection practice at child care centres.
Parkinson
Lynne
L
Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, Royal Newcastle Hospital, New South Wales. lynne.parkinson@newcastle.edu.au
Astley
Bronwyn
B
Peterkin
Danna
D
Page
Christine
C
Hampson
Andrew
A
D002656:Child Day Care Centers / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009517:New South Wales; D016134:Organizational Policy; D011481:Protective Clothing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects
D013473:Sunscreening Agents