Health Education Research Advance Access originally published online on March 27, 2009
Health Education Research 2009 24(5):778-787; doi:10.1093/her/cyp013
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Baseline survey of sun protection policies and practices in primary school settings in New Zealand
Cancer Society of New Zealand Social and Behavioural Research Unit, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
* Correspondence to: A. I. Reeder. E-mail: tony.reeder{at}otago.ac.nz
The SunSmart Schools Accreditation Programme (SSAP) was launched as a national programme in October 2005 to help reduce the risk of excessive child exposure to ultraviolet radiation. As part of the need for evaluation, this paper reports the findings of a national survey of a randomly selected sample of approximately 12% of New Zealand primary schools prior to the national launch of the SSAP. Principals at 242 schools completed a mail survey (81% response rate) relating to school sun protection policies, practices, curriculum and environment. Survey responses were evaluated according to the 12 criteria of the SSAP, with schools assigned a score from 0 to 12. No school fully met all 12 accreditation criteria, although 2% of schools attained 11 criteria and another 2% attained 10. Nine per cent of schools attained three or fewer criteria. Overall, 7 was the most common score, achieved by 23%. School socio-economic decile rating and roll size were positively associated with higher scores (both P < 0.02). Continued support and resources are needed to encourage schools to address sun protection across the spectrum of curriculum, practices and environment and through commitment to written policy.
Received on October 8, 2007; accepted on February 19, 2009