IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i4p1137-d319062.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Potential of Ultraviolet Radiation Meters in Secondary Schools as a Sun Protection Intervention Mechanism for Adolescents

Author

Listed:
  • Simone Pettigrew

    (Food Policy Division, The George Institute for Global Health, Newtown, NSW 2042, Australia)

  • Ashleigh Parnell

    (Kurongkurl Katitjin, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6050, Australia)

  • Mark Strickland

    (Cancer Prevention & Research, Cancer Council Western Australia, Subiaco, WA 6008, Australia)

  • Rachel Neale

    (Population Health Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia)

  • Robyn Lucas

    (National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia)

Abstract

The aim of this pilot study was to assess whether the installation of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) meters in secondary schools has the potential to improve adolescents’ sun protection-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours and reduce their exposure to UVR during school hours. Data were collected from students at two schools via online pre- and post-intervention surveys, measurement of sunscreen usage, polysulfone UVR exposure badges, and photographs of the schoolyards to assess hat and shade use. Several operational issues limited the quantity and quality of data that could be collected, and findings were mixed. While there were no significant changes in either self-reported or observed sun protection behaviours, there were significant improvements in UVR knowledge among students at the intervention school, and reactions to the meter were highly favourable. Students reported consulting the meter regularly and using it to make decisions about their sun protection behaviours. Overall, the study results offer some support for the use of UVR meters in areas frequented by adolescents and provide insights into the process issues that are likely to need to be addressed when attempting to trial sun protection interventions in schools.

Suggested Citation

  • Simone Pettigrew & Ashleigh Parnell & Mark Strickland & Rachel Neale & Robyn Lucas, 2020. "The Potential of Ultraviolet Radiation Meters in Secondary Schools as a Sun Protection Intervention Mechanism for Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-13, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:4:p:1137-:d:319062
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/4/1137/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/4/1137/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mario Blumthaler, 2018. "UV Monitoring for Public Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-10, August.
    2. Brian L. Diffey, 2018. "Time and Place as Modifiers of Personal UV Exposure," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-16, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Forrest M. Mims & Andrew J. S. McGonigle & Thomas C. Wilkes & Alfio V. Parisi & William B. Grant & Joseph M. Cook & Tom D. Pering, 2019. "Measuring and Visualizing Solar UV for a Wide Range of Atmospheric Conditions on Hawai’i Island," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-24, March.
    2. Katharina Diehl & Tatiana Görig & Charlotte Jansen & Maike Carola Hruby & Annette B. Pfahlberg & Olaf Gefeller, 2021. "“I’ve Heard of It, Yes, but I Can’t Remember What Exactly It Was”—A Qualitative Study on Awareness, Knowledge, and Use of the UV Index," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-10, February.
    3. Joji Abraham & Christopher Turville & Kim Dowling & Singarayer Florentine, 2021. "Does Climate Play Any Role in COVID-19 Spreading?—An Australian Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-14, August.
    4. Friedo Zölzer & Stefan Bauer, 2021. "Solar Ultraviolet Radiation Risk Estimates—A Comparison of Different Action Spectra and Detector Responsivities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-18, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:4:p:1137-:d:319062. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.