PEDIATRICS Vol. 98 No. 1 July 1996, pp. 52-55
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Promoting Sun Awareness: Evaluation of an Educational Children's Book

Caroline M. Thornton MD1 and Daniel J. Piacquadio MD1

1 Dermatology Clinical Research, Division of Dermatology, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Veterans Administration Medical Center, San Diego

Objective. To assess the value of early childhood education as a means of increasing awareness and knowledge about the sun and related skin disease(s).

Methods. A children's book promoting sun awareness and protection was developed. The text was incorporated into the health education curriculum of two third-grade classrooms (n = 82). The students completed a questionnaire before, immediately after, and 6 weeks after reading the text. Student sun awareness knowledge was compared using descriptive statistics and paired T-tests.

Results. Behaviors and attitudes that resulted in overexposure to the sun's ultraviolet light were common among third-graders. Primary test areas included the sun's effect on skin, effective sunscreens, skin type, and skin cancer. Test scores showed a marked improvement (40% compared with baseline) in knowledge of sun protection at both posttests. Parents represented the greatest source of information for children (28 of 82) before this study, while doctors and teachers each accounted for only 1 of 82.

Conclusions. Preventive measures in childhood have the potential to significantly reduce the incidence of sunrelated skin diseases; however, education to date has been directed primarily at parents. This study demonstrated that an educational book for elementary school students can be an effective tool to increase sun awareness and knowledge. The multifaceted approach to prevention recommended here is similar to that of the highly successful dental care campaign, consisting of direct education of children by physicians, teachers, parents, and the media.

Submitted on April 28, 1995
Accepted on August 23, 1995




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