Impact of skin cancer prevention on outdoor aquatics staff: The Pool Cool program in Hawaii and Massachusetts

Background. Aquatic staff, including lifeguards, are exposed to intense sun light for many hours each day and are likely to be at a relatively high ris k for developing skin cancer. However, no interventions have been specifica lly directed to staff at outdoor swimming pool sites. Methods. We conducted a randomized controlled trial among aquatic staff at 28 outdoor pool sites in Hawaii and Massachusetts. Intervention pools recei ved sun protection education and control pools received education on child injury prevention. Staff in both arms received orientation sessions and led instruction during swim lessons. Analysis of covariance was used to compar e and test for changes in outcome variables (sun protection habits and sunb urning rates of aquatic staff) and pool protection policies. Surveys were c ompleted at the beginning and end of the summer. Results. Surveys were completed by 220 aquatics staff at baseline; 194 surv eys were completed at posttest. Compared with staff at control pools, sun p rotection policies (P < 0.04) and sunburning rates (P < 0.05) improved at s un protection pools from baseline to posttest. However, the difference in t he mean score of all sun protection habits between the two study groups was nonsignificant. Conclusion. The Pool Cool sun protection intervention had significant effec ts on lifeguards' sunburn rates and pool sun safety policies but did not im prove reported sun protection behaviors. More intensive strategies may be n eeded to influence aquatics workers who have already begun to adopt skin ca ncer prevention practices. (C) 2001 American Health Foundation and Academic Press.