title: Rationale and study protocol to evaluate the SunSmart policy intervention: a cluster randomised controlled trial of a primary school-based health promotion program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous evaluations of the SunSmart Program have supported the link between a written sun protection policy and improved sun protection behaviours in New South Wales (NSW) primary schools. However these evaluations have relied on self-reported data and research suggests that direct observations are required to better represent schools' usual sun protective practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data will be collected in the summer months of 2014, 2015, and 2016 as part of an 18-month cluster-controlled trial in NSW primary schools (n = 20). Researchers will conduct three direct observations to record students' hat use and teachers' use of sun protective measures during recess and lunch periods in each school. Researchers will also record the volume of sunscreen that the Year 6 classes in each school utilise over the term. At the conclusion of baseline data collection, five schools will be randomised into an intervention group that will work with researchers to develop a policy-driven intervention to improve sun safety behaviour in NSW primary schools.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An initial review of relevant Australian and New Zealand literature suggests that provision of policy support is likely to improve school sun protection practices; however there is no suggested model for this support. This will be the first objective analysis of sun safe behaviours leading to a policy-driven intervention conducted in Australian primary schools since the 1990s, and will inform the future direction of sun safety in our schools.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register ACTRN12614000926639 Registered 28(th) August 2014.
authors: Faculty of Human Sciences/School of Education, Macquarie University, North Ryde, 2109, Australia. dean.dudley@mq.edu.au.
authors: Dean A
authors: DA
authors: Dudley
authors: School of Teacher Education, Charles Sturt University, Panorama Ave, Bathurst, 2795, Australia. mwinslade@csu.edu.au.
authors: Matthew J
authors: MJ
authors: Winslade
authors: School of Teacher Education, Charles Sturt University, Panorama Ave, Bathurst, 2795, Australia. bwright@csu.edu.au.
authors: Bradley J
authors: BJ
authors: Wright
authors: Faculty of Education and Social Work, The University of Sydney, Sydney, 2006, Australia. wayne.cotton@sydney.edu.au.
authors: Wayne G
authors: WG
authors: Cotton
authors: Skin Cancer Prevention Unit, Cancer Council New South Wales, Dowling St, Woolloomooloo, 2011, Australia. jackiem@nswcc.org.au.
authors: Jackie L
authors: JL
authors: McIver
authors: Skin Cancer Prevention Unit, Cancer Council New South Wales, Dowling St, Woolloomooloo, 2011, Australia. kirstenj@nswcc.org.au.
authors: Kirsten S
authors: KS
authors: Jackson
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales; D009520:New Zealand; D057766:Policy; D011481:Protective Clothing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012107:Research Design; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014887:Weather
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents
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