Abstracts Category : Other

A cross-sectional analysis of the sun-protective behaviours and policies at primary schools in north and far north Queensland

by Denise Turner

Background: Skin cancers, including both melanoma and keratinocyte carcinomas, are the most common cancers diagnosed in Australia. Solar ultraviolet radiation, sunlight, is a skin carcinogen. Geographical regions of north Queensland (Australia) are exposed to high levels of solar ultraviolet radiation year-round. For Caucasian populations, excessive exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation, especially during the childhood years, can result in sunburn and increase melanocytic naevi development. Naevi are a risk factor for melanoma and have been identified as precursor lesions in up to 60% of melanoma cases. Therefore excessive sun-exposure during the childhood years can increase naevi development and lifetime melanoma risk. The risk of developing melanoma may be especially high for individuals with numerous naevi, a history of painful blistering sunburns during childhood, fair skin (Fitzpatrick skin type I or II), fair hair colour and light eye colour. The risk of developing keratinocyte carcinoma, for example basal cell carcinoma, is linked with both intermittent and excessive sun-exposure, particularly excessive exposure that resulted in sunburn during childhood. School children should be encouraged to use multiple methods of sun-protection, including hats and shade, when outdoors at school to reduce excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation.The sun-protection policies of north Queensland primary schools and the sun-protective practices used by children and their adult role-models (including parents and school staff) at these schools are not regularly monitored and reported. Also, these school communities are not required to measure and report the amount of shade available at their school for children to use when they are outdoors. At the commencement of this thesis the comprehensiveness of north Queensland primary school sun-protection policies and how well these school communities followed through with sun-safety guidelines had not been documented. A remote (off-site) method to accurately measure shade at schools was also unavailable.The aims of this thesis were to address the following research questions.1) How comprehensive are the sun-protection policies at north Queensland primary schools in the geographical regions of Townsville (latitude 19.3S, longitude 146.8E), Cairns (latitude 16.87S, longitude 145.75E) and the Atherton Tablelands (Atherton: latitude 17.26S, longitude 145.48E) (study 1)?2) What body surface area is covered by regulation school uniforms at primary schools in Townsville, Cairns and the Atherton Tablelands (study 2)?3) Can a method to remotely measure shade availability at schools be developed (study 3)?4) What proportions of Townsville primary school students and their adult-role models wear a hat to school before, during and after school hours (study 4)?5) What proportions of Townsville primary school student spectators wear a hat and wear a shirt at inter-school swimming carnivals (study 5)?Methodology: Participants: All north Queensland schools