Evaluation of the SunWise School Program

Abstract

Melanoma, the most fatal form of skin cancer, is rising at rates faster than all other preventable cancers in the United States. Childhood exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light increases the risk for skin cancer as an adult, therefore, starting positive sun protection habits early may be key to reducing the incidence of this disease. The Environmental Protection Agency's SunWise School Program, a national environmental and health education program for sun safety of children in primary and secondary schools (Grades K-8), was evaluated. Pretests (n = 4,559) and posttests (n = 4,016) were completed by students from 85 schools in 35 states. Significant increases were noted for the three knowledge variables. Intentions to play in the shade increased from 70% to 76% (p < 0.001) with more modest changes in intentions to use sunscreen. Attitudes regarding the healthiness of a tan also decreased significantly. Brief, standardized sun protection education can be efficiently interwoven into existing school curricula and result in increases in knowledge and positive intentions for sun protection.

Economic Evaluation of the US Environmental Protection Agency's SunWise Program: Sun Protection Education for Young Children

“…Complementing the assessment of sun protection habits reported in this study, Geller et al 14 found that children who participated in SunWise experienced an 11% reduction in the sunburning rate (from 66% of students reporting sunburns at pretest to 55% at posttest). An 8% decrease from pretest to posttest in the rate of frequent sunburning (Ն3 sunburns per summer) was also reported.…”

“…To our knowledge, this study is the first to assess the net benefits and cost-effectiveness of a school-based sun safety intervention. Although a number of studies have evaluated the behavioral impacts of school-based and community sun safety education programs, [13][14][15][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67] our study is 1 of few economic evaluations of skin cancer prevention programs, school-based or otherwise. Carter et al 68 modeled the cost-effectiveness of a hypothetical national skin cancer prevention program in Australia, based on the existing SunSmart campaign, and concluded that such a program would provide excellent value for money.…”

“…The significance of the difference between pretest and posttest was determined using the 2 test for 2 ϫ 2 contingency tables. Data through 2002 were published elsewhere, 14 and survey results through 2005 were presented at the 2006 International Union Against Cancer World Cancer Congress. 18…”

“…13 The SunWise School Program is an effective means of improving students' sun protection knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. [13][14][15] These improved behaviors can prevent future cases of skin cancer; however, because resources for funding school-based health programs are limited, as is the amount of curriculum time that school administrators can devote to health-related topics, demonstrating effectiveness may not be sufficient to justify program implementation. Evaluations of the cost-effectiveness of school-based programs can provide a component of that validation, but few studies, to our knowledge, have analyzed the economics of school-based health programs, and none has analyzed school-based sun safety programs.…”

Getting in early: primary skin cancer prevention at 55 German kindergartens

“…27 Similarly, the Environmental Protection Agency's 'SunWise' school programme in the U.S.A., a national environmental and health education programme for sun safety of children in primary and secondary schools, has shown significant increases in knowledge as well as sun-protection behaviour. 28 Due to these facts and the lack of primary interventional programmes in Germany, the pilot study 'SunPass' was developed and conducted from 2008 to 2009 in a kindergarten in Berlin with 150 children aged 0-6 years, staff members (n = 12) and parents (n = 46). This certification and training programme resulted in clearly improved sun protection of the children as well as a significant improvement in knowledge of sun-related issues.…”