PUBLIC-EDUCATION PROJECTS IN SKIN-CANCER - THE EVOLUTION OF SKIN-CANCER PREVENTION EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AT A COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER

Background. Skin cancer affects more Americans than any other type of cancer. Children are prime targets far prevention education, because s un overexposure in early childhood may affect the development of skin cancer later in life. Preventive behaviors adopted early in life may b e less resistant to change than those acquired in adulthood. Thus, the re is a need to educate children at an early age about sun overexposur e. Methods. This article describes the evolution of skin cancer preven tion research at the Arizona Cancer Center, a National Cancer institut e-designated comprehensive cancer center. Research focusing on childre n is highlighted. Results. From its roots in the Arizona Sun Awareness Project, an informal public skin cancer education program, skin cance r prevention research at the Arizona Cancer Center has produced two de velopmentally appropriate, age-based curricula aimed at teaching child ren about the benefits and dangers of the sun. The elementary school c urriculum, Sunny Days, Healthy Ways, has undergone two tests of feasib ility and is the intervention used in a large, randomized, experimenta l trial. The preschool curriculum, Be Sun Safe, has been tested in a r andomized trial and was found to have a positive effect on preschooler s' knowledge and comprehension of sun safety. Conclusions. Educating c hildren about skin cancer may be an important way of decreasing the in cidence of skin cancer. Although informal skin cancer prevention educa tion can be helpful, educational programs preferably should be researc h based and evaluated for effectiveness before public distribution. Th e Arizona Cancer Center experience can serve as a model for other prog rams.