Sun Protection for Florida's Children

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Skin Cancer
• Interventions: Behavioral: Increasing hat use

• Registration Number: NCT00346021
• Lead Sponsor: University of South Florida

Brief Summary

Purpose of the project is to develop a school-based intervention aimed at increasing hat use when children are outside at home and at school. The intervention is targeted to fourth grade children in Hillsborough County, Florida and is based on Theory of Reasoned Action and Planned Behavior. It is structured to accomplish the following goals: (a) increase sun protection knowledge of children in regards to hat use,(b) foster more positive attitudes in regard to wearing hats,(c) change the subjective norms of wearing hats (d) target persons that children perceive as controlling their behavior of wearing hats(parents,teachers) and increase the use of hats when children are outdoors at school(primary outcome) and when outdoors at times other than school(secondary outcome).

Detailed Description

Intervention is aimed at encouraging students to use a wide brim hat when participating in outdoor activities. To accomplish this goal our approach will be multifaceted and will include:

1. individual sessions with school principals to facilitate a school policy that encourages hat use when children are outdoors.

2. sessions with fourth grade teachers that explains the importance of sun protection and hat use, and that addresses potential concerns by teachers.

3. classroom sessions with fourth grade children that improves sun protection knowledge, fosters more positive attitudes about hat use. and that changes the subjective norm of wearing hats when at school.

4. follow-up sessions in which children are provided free hats with a customized design that represents their school.

5. sun protection educational materials that are mailed to the parents of targeted children.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2005-02
• Study First Submitted: 2006-06-27
• Study First Submitted QC: 2006-06-27
• Study First Posted: 2006-06-29
• Primary Completion: 2011-08
• Study Completion: 2011-08
• Status Verified: 2012-06
• Last Update Submitted: 2012-06-19
• Last Update Posted: 2012-06-20

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 2984

Inclusion Criteria

• One fourth/one fifth grade class.
• 20 students minimum.
• 25% of students are Caucasian.
• Principle/teachers agree to participate.
• Majority of parents agree to participate.
• Majority of 4th grade students provide written assent.
• One outdoor session lasting 20 minutes once per week where children are directly exposed to the sun.
• Outdoor session in an area observable by data monitors.
• School can accommodate intervention components of study.
• School environment stable over the intervention period.
• Randomized control school delay sun protection initiatives until project is completed.

Exclusion Criteria

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Sun Protection Intervention	Increasing hat use	School based sun protection education, provision of free hats.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Increase the use of hats when children are outside at school	june 2008

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Increase the hat use when children are outside at times other than school	june 2008

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Univeristy of South Florida; 🇺🇸 Tampa, Florida, United States