P. Vitols et Rk. Oates, TEACHING-CHILDREN ABOUT SKIN-CANCER PREVENTION - WHY WAIT FOR ADOLESCENCE, Australian and New Zealand journal of public health, 21(6), 1997, pp. 602-605
The baseline knowledge about skin cancer prevention of 983 children ag
ed 8 to 12 years was assessed by a pretest questionnaire. After the pr
etest, half were given a formal presentation about skin cancer prevent
ion. The other half participated in an informal, question-and-answer s
ession, which covered all material from the formal presentation. Two w
eeks later, all students completed an identical post-test. The student
s had a high baseline level of knowledge about skin cancer prevention.
Knowledge increased for most items in the post-test questionnaire. In
all age groups there was no difference in results between the formal
and interactive teaching sessions, except among eight-year-olds, for w
hom the formal presentation was more effective. As much solar skin dam
age occurs before adolescence, the younger age group is the important
target for skin cancer prevention programs.