Knowledge, attitudes, and self-report practices of sun safe behaviors in fourth grade students and their parents

Background: Repeated exposures during childhood to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, a known carcinogen to the skin, have a cumulative effect on the risk of developing melanoma later in life. Children and parents' knowledge and attitudes related to sun safety directly influence their sun-related behaviors. Methods: Fourth grade students (N=84) and their parents (N=95) in two suburban elementary schools in the Southeastern United States completed baseline self-report surveys on knowledge, attitudes and behaviors related to sun safety. Data were available for 84 matched parent-student pairs. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, chi-square analysis, and Fischer's exact test (�=0.05). Results: Eighty-four percent of parents reported they talk with their child about sun safety at least once a year. While 72.6% of students were able to correctly identify �sun safe� behaviors, few students reported that they �often� or �very often� wear clothes that cover their skin (13.1%), a hat (17.9%), or sunglasses (15.5%) while out in the sun. Most students (73.8%) reported sunscreen use �only at the beach, lake, or pool.� There was no significant relationship between child knowledge of sun safety and their behaviors or the frequency of parent teaching and child behavior. Conclusions: These data reveal students have an understanding of the risks of sun damage and what sun safe behaviors are; however, results also show that students do not always practice these behaviors. This underscores the need for a more comprehensive school-based sun-safe education program for students and parents that includes reinforcement of these important practices.