Sun Safety Intervention for Elementary School Students

This study evaluated the impact of an elementary school‐based intervention that aimed to improve sun safety knowledge and behaviors among third‐ and fourth‐grade students in Pennsylvania through an educational video, t‐shirt design contest, and interactive assembly. From pre‐survey ( n = 88) to post‐survey ( n = 86), students showed significant improvements in awareness of the link between sun exposure and skin cancer ( p < 0.001). Between pre‐survey and 6‐month follow‐up ( n = 67), no significant changes were found in reported sunscreen use and reapplication, hat‐wearing, or sunburn incidence, but knowledge of skin cancer risk from the sun remained high ( p < 0.001). In summary, the intervention significantly increased awareness of the link between sun exposure and skin cancer, with knowledge remaining high at 6‐month follow‐up, but sustained behavioral change was not observed, suggesting a need for continued reinforcement or different intervention.