Adolescents' use of purpose built shade in secondary schools: cluster randomised controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether students use or avoid newly shaded areas created by shade sails installed at schools.


METHODS
Cluster randomised controlled trial with secondary schools as the unit of randomisation.


METHODS
51 secondary schools with limited available shade, in Australia, assessed over two spring and summer terms.


METHODS
Students outside at lunch times.


METHODS
Purpose built shade sails were installed in winter 2005 at full sun study sites to increase available shade for students in the school grounds.


METHODS
Mean number of students using the primary study sites during weekly observations at lunch time.


RESULTS
Over the study period the mean change in students using the primary study site from pre-test to post-test was 2.63 (95% confidence interval 0.87 to 4.39) students in intervention schools and -0.03 (-1.16 to 1.09) students in control schools. The difference in mean change between groups was 2.67 (0.65 to 4.68) students (P=0.011).


CONCLUSIONS
Students used rather than avoided newly shaded areas provided by purpose built shade sails at secondary schools in this trial, suggesting a practical means of reducing adolescents' exposure to ultraviolet radiation.


BACKGROUND
Exempt.
Dobbinson
Suzanne J
SJ
Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria, 1 Rathdowne Street, Carlton, Vic 3053, Australia. Suzanne.Dobbinson@cancervic.org.au
White
Vanessa
V
Wakefield
Melanie A
MA
Jamsen
Kris M
KM
White
Victoria
V
Livingston
Patricia M
PM
English
Dallas R
DR
Simpson
Julie A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012574:Schools; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D013472:Sunlight; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014739:Victoria; D014887:Weather