title: Assessing a sun protection program aimed at Greek elementary school students for malign melanoma prevention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Numerous countries have launched campaigns regarding sun protection in the last decades.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to assess an intervention program aimed at higher knowledge and healthier attitudes regarding sun protection.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 4,133 students aged 8-12 years from a single Greek province.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In most items, knowledge levels after the intervention were found to be higher than those before (2.8±0.9 vs 3.3±0.9), while knowledge about sun protection factors seems to have had the highest improvement (27.1% vs 56.6%). However, student attitudes did not appear to improve, with the exception of applying sunscreen with a higher SPF (29.7% vs 54.8%). Girls seemed to have healthier attitudes compared to boys, but gender played no role with regard to knowledge levels. Also, place of residence did not play any role regarding knowledge levels, although those living in semi-urban areas seemed to have more unhealthy attitudes. Logistic regression by correlating knowledge and attitudes established that higher knowledge levels are usually accompanied by healthier attitudes, albeit marginally.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intervention had a positive contribution to the student knowledge level regarding sun protection and also led to small improvements regarding some attitudes. Continuous similar interventions could lead to better results and the adoption of healthier attitudes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, University of Athens, Greece E-mail : sarmar32@windowslive.com.
authors.forename: Maria Ioannis
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Saridi
authors.forename: Maria Demetrios
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Rekleiti
authors.forename: Aikaterini George
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Toska
authors.forename: Kyriakos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Souliotis
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013334:Students; D013471:Sunburn / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents