Effects of a sun protection program targeting elementary school children and their parents

Background: Excessive sun exposure in childhood is considered a risk factor for later development of skin cancer, so sun awareness programs targeting children have been developed. Objective: To assess the benefits of involving parents at home in the sun protection program received by their children at school. Method: The existing "Sun and the Skin" program was enhanced in two ways. Parents were educated both about their child's program and with supplemental information. Also, sunscreen was distributed to each child. Results: Certain methods of sun protection, particularly the use of sunscreen, are being practiced by the majority of children, while others, such as protective clothing, have not been readily adopted. The enhanced group of students showed improvement over control and standard groups in their attitude toward tanning. There is a need for teachers to remind their students to practice protective measures. Conclusions: While a sun-awareness curriculum has been shown to be beneficial for elementary school children, the adjunct of parental and school involvement in this process can improve the results and ultimately decrease the risk of skin cancer in the children.