Skin cancer prevention—Fun in the sun: Cool kids cover up

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer accounting for 2 to 3 million non-melanoma cases and over 132,000 melanoma cases worldwide. Research reveals that children need to be protected from over exposure to the sun to minimize their risk of developing skin cancer in the future. In southern sunny California the county of San Bernardino has a lack of sun-safety programs. Data show that the preschoolers who attend Head Start Programs in San Bernardino are exposed to the sun at least 30 minutes everyday during recess; riding tricycles, playing on the slide and in sand boxes, and other activities typically without protective gear or shaded play areas. Further, there are no policies at schools providing guidance for sun safety. A needs assessment was conducted among parents, teachers, and staff to address this issue. Ethnographic observations, 10 key informant interviews, and one confirmatory focus group, were conducted. The Precaution Adoption Process Model was used as the over-arching guide for data collection; and the data were coded and analyzed using the grounded theory approach. Themes revealed a lack of knowledge about the importance of protective sun measures, the dangers of excessive sun burning and tanning, and the need for sun-protected shaded play areas. A program was also developed for parents & staff promoting awareness, modifying sun exposure practices for themselves and the children, and improving communications with administration for assistance. This pilot program was developed, implemented, and evaluated (process & impact) for program improvement and sustainability.