WHAT DO CHILDREN AGED 5 TO 11 YEARS OLD KNOW ABOUT THE SUN AND SKIN-CANCER - THE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES SF INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH WHEN ANALYSIS SF LANGUAGE IS INVOLVED

The objective of this study was to determine the perceptions of primar y school children about sun exposure and skin cancer, and the language they use about these issues, as a basis for the design of health prom otional materials. In all, 2857 children in five European countries to ok part in the study and were compared with 641 Australian children pa rticipating in a similar study, since the latter have been exposed to more intensive health education about the sun. The 'draw and write' te chnique was used. In Europe the level of awareness about the risks of excessive sun exposure and the need to protect the skin was considerab ly lower than in Australia, although there was some variation within n orthern Europe. Amongst the European children acknowledging a need to protect the skin, the principal means of protection quoted was the use of suncreams, with inadequate awareness of the value of clothing, hat s and shade. European children expressed greater approval of suntans t han did the Australian children. Some methodological problems were enc ountered as a result of nuances in the languages involved, emphasizing difficulties in international research of this type.