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Persistent increase in children's sun protection in a randomized controlled community trial.
A J Dietrich1, A L Olson, C H Sox
1Department of Community and Family Medicine and Department of Pediatrics, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, USA. Allen.J.Dietrich@Dartmouth.EDU
Preventive Medicine
|November 10, 2000
Summary
Childhood sun protection increased and was sustained one year after a community intervention. This multi-component program improved sunscreen use, reducing long-term skin cancer risk.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Dermatology
Background:
- Childhood sun exposure is a risk factor for adult skin cancer.
- A community-based intervention (SunSafe) was implemented in 1996 to increase childhood sun protection.
- The long-term effectiveness of the intervention beyond the initial year was unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the sustained impact of the SunSafe intervention on children's sun protection behaviors.
- To determine if increased sun protection levels persisted into the summer following the intervention.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial was conducted in 10 New Hampshire towns.
- Observations of 1490 children's sun protection (clothing, shade, sunscreen) at beaches were compared between 1995 (pre-intervention) and 1997 (post-intervention).
- A follow-up contact was made to intervention sites in 1997 to provide materials and address questions.
Main Results:
- In intervention towns, the proportion of children using any sun protection increased from 0.58 in 1995 to 0.73 in 1997 (an increase of 0.15).
- Control towns showed a smaller increase (0.03) (P = 0.033).
- The increase in protection was primarily due to greater sunscreen use; protective clothing and shade use did not significantly change. Caregivers in intervention towns reported receiving more sun protection information (62% vs. 33%, P < 0.006).
Conclusions:
- The SunSafe intervention led to a sustained increase in childhood sun protection in intervention communities.
- The observed increases from 1995 to 1997 were comparable in magnitude to previously reported short-term increases.
- Community-based interventions can effectively promote long-term sun protection behaviors in children.