Skin cancer prevention education: a national survey of YMCAs

High skin cancer incidence and mortality rates have created a need for skin cancer prevention education. Children are an important target for this education, as overexposure to sun and sunburns at an early age have been linked to the development of skin cancer. This study identified the prevalence of skin cancer prevention education and the need for this education at YMCA swim classes. This study also assessed the feasibility of implementing Project SUNWISE, an existing skin cancer prevention curriculum, developed for YMCA swim classes. A 51-item survey was mailed to Aquatics Directors at all YMCAs with outdoor pools. Based on a 63% response rate (N = 208), only 28% of YMCAs thought the children in their swim classes were adequately protected from the sun, and only 28% offered skin protection or sun safety education in swim classes. Only 50% of YMCAs trained their swim instructors on skin cancer prevention. While 91% of YMCAs had one or more sun protection items near the pool (e.g., sunscreen, umbrella, covered area), 93% of YMCAs saw the need for additional protection. The majority of YMCAs (95%) were willing to incorporate a skin cancer prevention education curriculum, similar to Project SUNWISE, into their swim classes. This study emphasized the need for more skin cancer prevention education programs targeting children and examined the correlates of skin cancer prevention education at YMCAs. Geographic region, percent of possible sunshine, and ultraviolet radiation were significantly associated with the skin cancer prevention education program status at the YMCAs.