SunSmart America: Evaluating a School-based Curriculum

摘要：本研究的目的在于(1)评估参加皮肤癌教育课程的小学生有关皮肤癌防护措施的知识、态度和行为；(2)研究知识、态度和行为之间的相关性，以及学生和家长的人口统计学特征之间的相关性，以确定增加防晒行为的因素。该研究将在佛罗里达州棕榈滩县的小学（3-5年级）进行。两组学校（研究组和对照组）将使用测试前和测试后的措施进行比较。学生将接受为期三年的研究，以评估一年干预与多年干预的有效性。父母对皮肤癌相关问题的了解也将被评估并用作协变量，因为父母的了解可能是学生知识和/或行为的预测因子。SunSmart America课程将在课堂上使用。它改编自理查德·大卫·凯恩黑色素瘤基金会的澳大利亚SunSmart项目。基金会将是这笔赠款的分包商，并将负责教师培训和课程的实施。迈阿密大学的一个多学科教师团队将负责评估部分。皮肤癌是美国最常见的癌症类型，其发病率的增长速度比其他任何癌症都要快。来自太阳的紫外线辐射（UVR）是主要的危险因素。由于一个人一生中有一半以上的紫外线暴露发生在18岁之前，儿童是减少紫外线暴露的主要人群，学校提供了一个重要的场所来教授和示范行为。了解与防晒行为相关的因素将为减少未来皮肤癌的负担提供关键信息。因此，有可能通过提高对紫外线辐射危害的认识，改变学校和娱乐对紫外线辐射的政策，来改变态度和行为。该研究还将确定学生和家长的人口统计学特征之间的正相关关系，并确定提高使用防晒行为机会的因素。研究结果将用于规划在佛罗里达州和全国范围内实施“阳光智慧美国”课程。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The aims of this study are (1) to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors relating to skin cancer protective measures among elementary school students who participate in a skin cancer education curriculum, and (2) to examine correlates between knowledge, attitudes and behaviors, and between student and parental demographic characteristics, to identify factors that will increase sun protective behaviors. The study will be conducted in elementary schools (grades 3-5) in Palm Beach County, Florida. Two groups of schools (study group and control group) will be compared using pre and post-test measures. Students will be studied over a period of three years to assess the effectiveness of one year vs. multiple year interventions. Parental knowledge of skin cancer related issues will also be assessed and used as a covariate because parental knowledge is likely to be a predictor of student knowledge and/or behaviors. The SunSmart America curriculum will be used in the classrooms. It was adapted from the Australian SunSmart program by the Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation. The Foundation will be the subcontractor on this grant, and will be responsible for teacher training and for implementing the curriculum. A multi-disciplinary faculty team at the University of Miami will be responsible for the evaluation components. The incidence of skin cancer, the most common type of cancer in the United States, is increasing at a faster rate than for any other cancer. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure from the sun is the main risk factor. Since more than half of a person's lifetime UVR exposure occurs during before age 18, children are a prime population for efforts to reduce UVR exposure, and schools provide an important venue to teach and model behaviors. Understanding factors related to sun protective behaviors will provide critical information needed to reduce the future burden of skin cancer. Thus it may be possible by increasing awareness of the dangers of UVR exposure, and altering school and recreational policies towards UVR, to change attitudes and behaviors. The study will also identify positive correlates between student and parental demographic characteristics and to determine factors that will improve chances of the use of sun protective behaviors. The results will be used for planning to implement the SunSmart America curriculum throughout Florida and nationwide.