Preventing Skin Cancer: Education and Policy Approaches in Secondary Schools and Colleges

Task Force Finding*

Interventions in secondary schools and colleges target adolescents and young adults. These interventions are important because young people in these age groups are likely to be exposed to more UV radiation than younger children who are in the care of parents and other caretakers. However, health educators face a unique challenge in working with this population, which is experiencing changes in attitudes and social norms that may be associated with increased high-risk health behavior.

The Task Force found that evidence was insufficient to determine the effectiveness of interventions in secondary schools or colleges to reduce adverse health effects or to change behavior related to UV exposure. Evidence was considered insufficient because of (1) limitations in the design and execution of available studies, (2) small numbers of admissible studies, (3) variability in interventions and evaluated outcomes, and (4) short follow-up times.

*From the following publication:

Task Force on Community Preventive Services. Recommendations to prevent skin cancer by reducing exposure to ultraviolet radiation. [PDF - 70KB] Am J Prev Med 2004;27(5):467-70.

Review completed: February 2002