Motivating Public School Districts to Adopt Sun Protection Policies: A Randomized Controlled Trial

详细信息    查看全文

• 作者：David B. Buller PhD^a ; ^{dbuller@kleinbuendel.com"" rel=""nofollow} ; Kim D. Reynolds PhD^b ; Jeff L. Ashley MD^c ; Mary K. Buller MA^a ; Ilima L. Kane MA^a ; Cheri L. Stabell MPH^d ; Kim L. Massie BS^b ; Xia Liu MS^a ; Gary R. Cutter PhD^a ; ^e
• 刊名：American Journal of Preventive Medicine
• 出版年：2011
• 出版时间：September 2011
• 年：2011
• 卷：41
• 期：3
• 页码：309-316
• 全文大小：521 K

文摘

Background

In 2002, CDC recommended that the nation's schools establish policies that reduce sun exposure to decrease students' risk of skin cancer.

Purpose

A program to convince public school districts to adopt such a policy was evaluated.

Design

RCT.

Setting/participants

Public school districts in Colorado (n=56) and Southern California (n=56).

Intervention

Policy information, tools, and technical assistance were provided through printed materials, a website, meetings with administrators, and presentations to school boards. An RCT enrolled public school districts from 2005 to 2010. Policy adoption was promoted over 2 years at districts randomized to the intervention.

Main outcome measures

School board–approved policies were obtained from 106 districts and coded at baseline and 2-year follow-up. Analyses were conducted in 2010.

Results

There was no difference in the percentage of districts adopting a policy (24 % in intervention; 12 % in control; p=0.142); however, intervention districts (adjusted M=3.10 of 21 total score) adopted stronger sun safety policies than control districts (adjusted M=1.79; p=0.035). Policy categories improved on sun safety education for students (intervention adjusted M=0.76; control adjusted M=0.43, p=0.048); provision of outdoor shade (intervention adjusted M=0.79; control adjusted M=0.28, p=0.029); and outreach to parents (intervention adjusted M=0.59; control adjusted M=0.20, p=0.027).

Conclusions

Multifaceted promotion can increase adoption of stronger policies for reducing sun exposure of students by public school districts. Future research should explore how policies are implemented by schools.