The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends primary and middle school interventions to prevent skin cancer. Primary and middle school (kindergarten through 8th grade) interventions to promote sun-protective behaviors include educational interventions, supportive behavioral interventions, and environmental and policy changes. Student-focused educational and behavioral interventions include teaching children about sun safety and the effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This teaching often is reinforced by modeling, demonstration, or role playing. Student-focused sun-protective environmental and policy changes include increasing the availability of sun-protective items (e.g., sunscreen or protective clothing), adding sun-protective features to the physical environment (e.g., shade structures), and implementing sun-protection policies (e.g., clothing guidelines and restrictions on outdoor activities during peak sunlight hours). Interventions also may include efforts to change the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of caregivers at school or at home.

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Effect Behavioral Change, Reduce Risk or Incidence of Disease or Condition, Community- & Faith-Based Organizations, Behavioral & Social, Informational & Educational, Primary Prevention, Students