Sun protection policies of Australian primary schools in a region of high sun exposure.
Queensland, Australia has the highest rates of skin cancer globally. Predetermined criteria were used to score the comprehensiveness of sun protection policies (SPP) of primary schools across Queensland. SPP were sought for schools in 10 regions (latitude range 16.3°S-28.1°S) from 2011 to 2014. Of the 723 schools sampled, 90.9% had a written SPP available publicly. Total SPP scores were low {mean 3.6 [95% CI: 3.4-3.9]; median 2 [interquartile range (IQR) 2, 4]}, with only 3.2% of schools achieving the maximum score of 12. Median SPP scores were higher in Northern and Central Queensland [both 2 (IQR 2, 6) and (IQR 2, 5), respectively] than in Southern Queensland [2 (IQR 2, 3); P = 0.004]. Clothing and hat-wearing were addressed in most policies (96% and 89%) while few schools used their SPP to plan outdoor events (5.2%) or reschedule activities to minimize sun exposure (11.7%). The SunSmart Schools program has been operating in Queensland for 17 years, and while most primary schools now have a written SPP, most are not comprehensive. Incentive-based approaches (5-star-rating award scheme and grants) may assist in addressing this issue, to reduce sun exposure of students and teachers. These data provide a baseline from which improvements in the comprehensiveness of school SPPs can be evaluated.
JCU Skin Cancer Research Unit, College of Public Health, Medical & Veterinary Sciences, Room Eg-083 Ground Floor, The Townsville Hospital Education Wing, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia The Anton Breinl Research Centre for Health Systems Strengthening, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM), James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia simone.harrison@jcu.edu.au.
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Harrison
JCU Skin Cancer Research Unit, College of Public Health, Medical & Veterinary Sciences, Room Eg-083 Ground Floor, The Townsville Hospital Education Wing, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.
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Garzón-Chavez
JCU Skin Cancer Research Unit, College of Public Health, Medical & Veterinary Sciences, Room Eg-083 Ground Floor, The Townsville Hospital Education Wing, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.
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Nikles
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control; D005843:Geography; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D011793:Queensland; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration; D013471:Sunburn / Q000517:prevention & control*