"Live Sun Smart!" Testing the effectiveness of a sun safety program for middle schoolers

Background: Skin cancer is a well-recognized public health issue, and primary prevention is the most effective strategy for reducing skin cancer risk. The current recommendations are that behavioral counseling for sun safety measures is most beneficial and effective for children and adolescents and that targeting this population at primary and middle schools is the ideal intervention strategy to increase sun-protective behaviors and reduce UV exposure, sunburn incidence, and formation of new moles. Numerous studies on the effectiveness of school-based sun safety interventions among elementary and middle school students have shown an increase in sun safety knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors following the intervention.

Objective: To conduct a pilot feasibility study of "Live Sun Smart!," (LSS) a school-based, multicomponent, interactive sun safety presentation, at changing sun safety knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among middle school students.

Methods: A non-randomized, single-group pretest-posttest interventional pilot study of the LSS program among children enrolled in grade 6.

Results: After exposure to LSS, participants were more likely to give correct answers to knowledge-based sun safety questions and to report negative attitudes toward tanning. Minimal and not significant changes were found in self-reported sun safety behaviors, though students did report an intention to change behaviors following the intervention. Participants were satisfied with the program and believed it increased their sun safety knowledge.

Conclusion: Live Sun Smart! appears to be an effective school-based, multicomponent sun safety program for improving sun safety knowledge and attitudes toward tanning among middle school students in this initial test of it. The strengths and weaknesses of this pilot study have implications for future research.