Maximising students' use of purpose-built shade in secondary schools: quantitative and qualitative results of a built-environment intervention.
A trial installing shade sails at secondary schools found increased students' use of newly shaded areas, but relatively low use overall. We examined site features and weather related to use of these shaded areas. Tables with seats and temperatures ≥27°C increased student use of shaded areas, presence of grass decreased use. Focus groups at eight schools suggest students were unaware of changes to their habitual use of favoured locations. Results infer careful selection of locations for built-shade and provision of tables with seats will assist in maximising student use and investments in shade sails.
Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria, St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Vic 3004 Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: Suzanne.Dobbinson@cancervic.org.au.
Suzanne
S
Dobbinson
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
Kris
K
Jamsen
School of Social Sciences, University of Tasmania (Sydney Campuses), Sydney, Australia.
Kim
K
McLeod
Australian Institute for Primary Care & Ageing, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
Vanessa
V
White
Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria, St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Vic 3004 Melbourne, Australia.
Melanie
M
Wakefield
Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria, St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Vic 3004 Melbourne, Australia.
Victoria
V
White
Faculty of Health, Medicine, Nursing and Behavioural Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
Patricia
P
Livingston
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
Julie A
JA
Simpson
D000293:Adolescent; D004779:Environment Design; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D019370:Observation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012574:Schools; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013472:Sunlight; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects
Adolescents; Shade; Skin cancer prevention; Sun protection; Ultraviolet radiation