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A survey of sun protection policy and education in secondary schools
David B Buller1, Mary Klein Buller, Kim D Reynolds
1Klein Buendel, Inc, Golden, Colorado 80401, USA. dbuller@kleinbuendel.com
Background:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued recommendations for school programs to reduce skin cancer.
Objective:
Personnel at US secondary schools were surveyed to describe sun protection policy and education before the CDC recommendations.
Methods:
School principals or other personnel at 484 secondary schools in 27 cities responded to a telephone survey in January and February 2002 (response rate = 31%).
Results:
A sun protection policy was reported at 10% of the schools, but sun protection education occurred at nearly all schools (96%). Policies were more prevalent in regions with high ultraviolet radiation (P < .0001), but education was not. Many personnel were willing to adopt a policy (41%) and interested in obtaining a sun safety curriculum (96%).
Limitations:
Self-report measures, nonresponse, and new schools not in the sampling frame.
Conclusion:
Sun protection was a low policy priority for US schools. Sun safety education was prevalent, but written materials were used infrequently. A substantial proportion of school personnel were receptive to the CDC's advice.
