Sun Safety Intervention for Elementary School Students

This study evaluated the impact of an elementary school-based intervention that aimed to improve sun safety knowledge and behaviors among third- and fourth-grade students in Pennsylvania through an educational video, t-shirt design contest, and interactive assembly. From pre-survey (n = 88) to post-survey (n = 86), students showed significant improvements in awareness of the link between sun exposure and skin cancer (p < 0.001). Between pre-survey and 6-month follow-up (n = 67), no significant changes were found in reported sunscreen use and reapplication, hat-wearing, or sunburn incidence, but knowledge of skin cancer risk from the sun remained high (p < 0.001). In summary, the intervention significantly increased awareness of the link between sun exposure and skin cancer, with knowledge remaining high at 6-month follow-up, but sustained behavioral change was not observed, suggesting a need for continued reinforcement or different intervention.