title: Sun protection training based on a theater play for preschoolers: an effective method for imparting knowledge on sun protection?
abstract: Sun protection in childhood is important to reduce the risk of developing skin cancer later in life. The "Periods-of-Life-Program" for primary prevention of skin cancer introduces a combination of individual and environmental interventions for the preschool period. Within this pilot study, an intervention group received cognitive-behavioral and environmental interventions. A control group had solely received the environmental intervention, and a wait-control group received no intervention. Nursery school children (n = 80, 3 to 6 years of age) of four nursery schools were randomly assigned to these groups on school level. The ability of the cognitive-behavioral intervention (a theater play) to enhance sun protection knowledge was examined. The theater play improved knowledge over all age groups (p < .05 η(2) = .06). Age-specific analyses showed better results for children aged 5 to 6 (p < .05 η(2) = .20) compared to children aged 3 to 4 years (p = .17 η(2) = .04). In combining cognitive-behavioral and environmental interventions, the "Periods-of-Life-Program" is a promising strategy for primary prevention of skin cancer.
authors.affiliation: University Cancer Center at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany. nadja.seidel@uniklinikum-dresden.de
authors.forename: Nadja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Seidel
authors.forename: Friederike
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stoelzel
authors.forename: Marlene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garzarolli
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: Eckhard Wilhelm
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Breitbart
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Berth
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baumann
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ehninger
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004324:Drama; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D012574:Schools; D013471:Sunburn / Q000517:prevention & control*