TY - JOUR
T1 - Improving sun-protection behavior among children
T2 - Results of a cluster-randomized trial in Italian elementary schools. The "SoleSi SoleNo-GISED" project
AU - Naldi, Luigi
AU - Chatenoud, Liliane
AU - Bertuccio, Paola
AU - Zinetti, Cornelia
AU - Di Landro, Anna
AU - Scotti, Lorenza
AU - La Vecchia, Carlo
AU - Cellini, Andreina
AU - Goglio, Mariella
AU - Caridi, Nino
AU - Zaccaria, Elisa
AU - Morena, Matteo
AU - Pinna, Anna Luisa
AU - Atzori, Laura
AU - Enrico Pezzarossa, Pezzarossa
AU - Fenizi, Gianfranco
AU - Quarta, Giuseppe
AU - Congedo, Maurizio
AU - Aurilia, Anna
AU - Cutrì, Francesco Tripodi
AU - Stanganelli, Ignazio
AU - Magi, Serena
AU - Ingordo, Vito
AU - Cantoro, Vittoria Maria
AU - Barba, Annalisa
AU - Tessari, Gianpaolo
AU - Rebora, Alfredo
AU - Giannetti, Alberto
AU - Peserico, Andrea
AU - Liberati, Alessandro
AU - Cusano, Francesco
AU - Saracco, Giovanni
AU - Molinu, Antonietta
AU - Pellegrino, Michele
AU - Ligrone, Luigi
AU - Musumeci, Francesco
AU - Simonacci, Marco
AU - Lo Scocco, Giovanni
AU - Virgili, Anna Rosa
AU - Zampino, Maria Rosaria
PY - 2007/8
Y1 - 2007/8
N2 - A history of sunburns in early life nearly doubles the risk of developing malignant melanoma in adulthood. From 2001 to 2004, we conducted a cluster-randomized trial of an educational intervention to reduce sunburn rates (primary outcome) and improve sun-protection behavior (secondary outcome) in schoolchildren. A total of 122 Italian primary schools (grades 2 and 3) were randomized to receive, or not, an intervention consisting of an educational curriculum at school, conducted by trained teachers, which included the projection of a short video and the distribution of booklets to children and their parents. Behavior while in the sun was assessed at baseline and 14-16 months after baseline. In a subgroup (44% of the total sample), melanocytic nevi were also counted. Of the 11,230 children enrolled, 8,611 completed the study. A total of 1,547 children (14%) reported a history of sunburns at baseline. At follow-up, no difference in sunburn episodes was documented between the study groups (odds ratio 0.97, 95% confidence interval 0.84-1.13) and similar sun-protection habits were reported. No significant impact of the proposed educational program was documented at 1-year follow-up. Innovative strategies need to be developed to increase the effectiveness of future educational interventions in this area.
AB - A history of sunburns in early life nearly doubles the risk of developing malignant melanoma in adulthood. From 2001 to 2004, we conducted a cluster-randomized trial of an educational intervention to reduce sunburn rates (primary outcome) and improve sun-protection behavior (secondary outcome) in schoolchildren. A total of 122 Italian primary schools (grades 2 and 3) were randomized to receive, or not, an intervention consisting of an educational curriculum at school, conducted by trained teachers, which included the projection of a short video and the distribution of booklets to children and their parents. Behavior while in the sun was assessed at baseline and 14-16 months after baseline. In a subgroup (44% of the total sample), melanocytic nevi were also counted. Of the 11,230 children enrolled, 8,611 completed the study. A total of 1,547 children (14%) reported a history of sunburns at baseline. At follow-up, no difference in sunburn episodes was documented between the study groups (odds ratio 0.97, 95% confidence interval 0.84-1.13) and similar sun-protection habits were reported. No significant impact of the proposed educational program was documented at 1-year follow-up. Innovative strategies need to be developed to increase the effectiveness of future educational interventions in this area.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34447534294&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/sj.jid.5700835
DO - 10.1038/sj.jid.5700835
M3 - Article
SN - 0022-202X
VL - 127
SP - 1871
EP - 1877
JO - Journal of Investigative Dermatology
JF - Journal of Investigative Dermatology
IS - 8
ER -