A STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF SUN AWARENESS WEEK 1995

We report a questionnaire-based survey of parents of schoolchildren to assess the impact of Sun Awareness Week, organized by the U.K. Skin C ancer Working Party, from 4 to 10 June 1995. A questionnaire was desig ned, pre-tested and modified. Nine hundred and eighty-nine parents of schoolchildren were approached before and after Sun Awareness Week at eight comprehensive primary schools and a children's clothes shop. Res ponses to the questionnaires were analysed in the following categories : total knowledge, sunscreen knowledge, melanoma risk factor knowledge , attitude, self-reported behaviour and awareness of the link between childhood sun exposure and cancer (link). A reasonable level of knowle dge was demonstrated in the sample population. Significant improvement s in attitude and behaviour scores were observed (P<0.05). Three of th e four link questions were significantly improved (P<0.005). These res ults were not explained by differences in age, sex or occupation betwe en the before and after populations. Further national studies are need ed to establish long-term benefits of such interventions.