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Alan C. Geller, MPH, RN; Jodie Zwirn, MPH; Linda Rutsch, MBA, MPH; Sue A. Gorham; Vish Viswanath, PhD; Karen M. Emmons, PhD

Arch Dermatol. 2008;144(4):491-496.

Objective  To understand the factors that may influence sun protection policy development if the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines are to be realized.

Design  Qualitative research methodology incorporating a socioecological framework using individual or small-group interviews, surveys, and environmental assessments with school superintendents, elementary school principals, elementary school nurses, and parent-teacher organization presidents and co-chairs as well as coding of school documents.

Setting  Elementary schools in Massachusetts.

Participants  Nine school superintendents, 18 elementary school principals, 18 elementary school nurses, and 16 parent-teacher organization presidents or co-chairs.

Main Outcome Measures  Presence of school sun protection policies, sun protection curriculum, and communication portals for sun protection information to parents.

Results  None of the schools in the 9 districts had a sun protection policy, and only 1 had any type of sun protection curriculum. However, nearly all principals were receptive to developing sun protection policies and to making structural changes to increase the amount of accessible shade if funding were available.

Conclusions  The schools' communication infrastructure could provide a key portal for disseminating sun protection information to parents. Although there are other resources that could be brought to bear, many challenges must be surmounted to develop effective sun protection policies.

Author Affiliations: Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine (Mr Geller), Center for Community-Based Research, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Ms Zwirn), and Department of Society, Human Development and Health, Harvard School of Public Health (Drs Viswanath and Emmons), Boston, Massachusetts; US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (Ms Rutsch); and the SHADE Foundation of America, Phoenix, Arizona (Ms Gorham).

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