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. © 2007 The Society for Investigative Dermatology.
Improving sun-protection behavior among children: Results of a cluster-randomized trial in Italian elementary schools. The "SoleSi SoleNo-GISED" project / Naldi, L.; Chatenoud, L.; Bertuccio, P.; Zinetti, C.; Di Landro, A.; Scotti, L.; La Vecchia, C.; Cellini, A.; Goglio, M.; Caridi, N.; Zaccaria, E.; Morena, M.; Pinna, A. L.; Atzori, L.; Enrico, Pezzarossa; Fenizi, G.; Quarta, G.; Congedo, M.; Aurilia, A.; Cutri, F. T.; Stanganelli, I.; Magi, S.; Ingordo, V.; Cantoro, V. M.; Barba, A.; Tessari, G.; Rebora, A.; Giannetti, A.; Peserico, A.; Liberati, A.; Cusano, F.; Saracco, G.; Molinu, A.; Pellegrino, M.; Ligrone, L.; Musumeci, F.; Simonacci, M.; Lo Scocco, G.; Virgili, A. R.; Zampino, M. R.. - In: JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY. - ISSN 0022-202X. - 127:8(2007), pp. 1871-1877. [10.1038/sj.jid.5700835]
Improving sun-protection behavior among children: Results of a cluster-randomized trial in Italian elementary schools. The "SoleSi SoleNo-GISED" project
Stanganelli I.;Saracco G.;
2007-01-01
Abstract
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. © 2007 The Society for Investigative Dermatology.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
