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Healthy Skin: Cancer Education for School Teachers and Nurses Using a "Train and Equip" Method.
1Department of Neurobiology & Developmental Sciences, College of Medicine, Slot 510, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham St., Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA. burnsbob@uams.edu.
Summary
This study trained 588 teachers and school nurses in a "Healthy Skin" curriculum, increasing their knowledge by 28.5%. The program equips educators to teach students about skin cancer prevention effectively.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Medical Education
Background:
- Skin cancer, particularly malignant melanoma, is a growing public health concern.
- Effective prevention strategies require early education and awareness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a "Healthy Skin" professional development program for K-12 teachers and school nurses.
- To assess the program's impact on educator knowledge and subsequent student engagement in skin cancer prevention.
Main Methods:
- A 6-hour interactive workshop training 588 educators in 17 communities.
- Provision of a resource kit for classroom use.
- Pre/post knowledge assessments and long-term evaluation of curriculum transfer.
Main Results:
- Educator knowledge increased by 28.5% post-workshop.
- High satisfaction reported with the training and resource kits.
- Evidence of transferred learning activities for students.
Conclusions:
- The "Healthy Skin" program effectively enhances educator knowledge and preparedness for skin cancer prevention education.
- This professional development model is replicable and scalable for educational institutions.
- Investing in educator training is crucial for improving student health outcomes in dermatology.