title: Study of sunbathing in children: the preliminary evaluation of a prevention program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sunburn during childhood is associated with an increased risk for developing melanoma in an adult age. The aim of the present study was to define the validity of our educational program in order to teach the positive effects and risks of sun exposure during childhood.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a population-based, case-control study in primary schools of three towns in Northern Italy (Brescia, Bergamo and Trento) between 2001 and 2002. The study was carried out on 1945 pupils (aged 8-9 years) and included 1309 case children who received an educational program before the summer to increase awareness towards sun exposure and 636 control children who did not. Parents of case and control children were interviewed using a questionnaire about their children's skin characteristics, sun protective behavior and sunburns. The questionnaire was completed twice, before and after the summer, to verify the changes of sun exposure habits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant decrease in sunburns was demonstrated in the group of subjects who received the educational program, indicating the validity of our operative procedure (from 14.6% to 10%, P = 4 x 10(-4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our educational melanoma program may be important to disseminate in a wider range of children a correct education on sun exposure during childhood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy. melanoma@osp.unibs.it
authors.forename: Ausilia Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Manganoni
authors.forename: Tullio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cainelli
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zumiani
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bufalino
authors.forename: Piergiacomo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calzavara-Pinton
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Camerini
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tucci
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baldi
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Venturini
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: Natale
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cascinelli
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008545:Melanoma / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D010858:Pigmentation; D015397:Program Evaluation; D044469:Racial Groups; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D013471:Sunburn / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires