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"Kidskin" was a 5-year (1995-1999), school-based intervention trial among first-grade children in Perth, Western Australia. It aimed to assess whether a sun-protection intervention could protect against nevus development on the trunk, face, and arms. Included were a control group, a "moderate intervention" group, and a "high intervention" group. Control schools taught the standard health curriculum, while intervention schools received a specially designed sun-protection curriculum over 4 years. The high intervention group also received program materials over summer vacations when sun exposure was likely to be highest and were offered low-cost sun-protective swimwear. After adjustment for baseline nevus counts and potential confounding, nevus counts on all body sites were slightly lower in both intervention groups relative to the control group at follow-up, although the differences were not statistically significant and the high intervention was no more protective. Children in the moderate and high intervention groups, respectively, had fewer nevi on the back (6%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0, 12; 4%, 95% CI: -3, 11), chest (boys) (5%, 95% CI: -4, 13; 3%, 95% CI: -8, 14), face (11%, 95% CI: 0, 21; 9%, 95% CI: -6, 21), and arms (8%, 95% CI: -1, 17; 3%, 95% CI: -10, 14). Am J Epidemiol 2002;155:739-45. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background. : Recognition that early sun exposure is an important risk factor for cutaneous melanoma in white populations has led to efforts to reduce children''s sun exposure. ‘Kidskin’ was a non-randomized, school-based sun protection intervention trial in Perth, Western Australia (1995–1999). Its aim was to determine the extent to which such a program could reduce children''s sun exposure. Methods. : Kidskin involved 1614 children assigned to one of three groups: a Control, a ‘Moderate’ and a ‘High’ intervention group of 14, 11 and 8 schools respectively. The unit of assignment was the school. Control schools received the standard health education curriculum, while intervention schools received a multi-component intervention including a specially designed curriculum. The High intervention group received additional components. Outcomes included parent reported sun-related behaviors and objectively measured suntan at the end of summer vacation. These outcomes were observed every 2 years. Statistical analyses allowed for correlations between students within schools. Results.: Kidskin initially had favorable effects on reported sun exposure and measured suntan. However, at the end of the 4-year program, and again 2 years later, little evidence of a favorable effect remained. Conclusions. : The benefits of childhood sun protection interventions may not last beyond the life of the program. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: We investigated whether the Kidskin sun protection intervention increased children's body mass index by reducing the time spent outdoors at midday., Methods: The Kidskin sun protection intervention involved 1614 Australian school children assigned to 1 of 3 groups: a control group, a moderate-intervention group, or a high-intervention group. Schools in the control group received the standard health curriculum and schools in the intervention groups received a multicomponent intervention. Outcomes included time spent outdoors and nevus development (a marker of melanoma risk). Height and weight were measured at 3 time points. Body mass index was transformed into age- and gender-specific z scores; z scores at each age were modeled simultaneously. Time spent outdoors at ages 10 and 12 years was analyzed using a linear mixed effects modeling., Results: The proportion of children who were overweight or obese increased with age. The moderate-intervention and control groups had a minimal increase in z score over time, and the z score for the high-intervention group decreased over time. There were no differences among groups with respect to total time outdoors at any age., Conclusions: It is possible to reduce the time children spend outdoors when ultraviolet radiation is high without producing an unfavorable effect on the children's body mass index.

Childhood sun exposure causes nevi (and melanoma), but there is little evidence regarding the effectiveness of sun protection strategies on the number of nevi. We previously found that boys but not girls receiving a school-based sun protection program had fewer nevi on their backs than controls. Here, we investigated whether specific program components (encouraging children to stay indoors in the middle of the day during summer, to wear clothing while outdoors, and to use sunscreen) were associated with fewer nevi. An observational analysis was done on data from a sun protection trial in 1,623 children in Perth, Australia. The outcome was number of nevi on the back 6 years after baseline, when the children were 12 years old. Information on sun protection was obtained by questionnaires 4 and 6 years after baseline. The data were analyzed by mixed-effects linear regression. The time spent outdoors between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and the proportion of total time outdoors that was between these hours were positively associated with number of nevi. Ratios of mean counts for doubling the respective measures were 1.09 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.05-1.12] and 1.10 (95% CI, 1.05-1.14). Children whose backs were covered <70% of the time while outdoors had 1.53 (95% CI, 1.34-1.75) times more nevi than children whose backs were always covered. Using sunscreen on the back when it was uncovered was not associated with number of nevi (P = 0.59). Children who stayed indoors in the middle of the day and wore clothing while outdoors had fewer nevi.

Because nevi share risk factors with melanoma and are strong risk factors for melanoma, they are suitable biomarkers for evaluating sun protection programs. Kidskin was a trial of a school-based sun protection program in Western Australia that included high and moderate intervention groups and a control group. Schools were assigned nonrandomly to groups. The primary outcome was number of nevi on the back. Nevi were counted at baseline, after 4 years intervention and again 2 years later. Linear growth models, allowing for correlated data within schools and children were fitted to the data. The primary analysis included 639 control children, 414 in the moderate and 355 in the high intervention group. Compared with the control group, the relative increase in number of nevi on the back was 0.89 (95% confidence interval, 0.81-0.99) for the high intervention group and 0.94 (95% confidence interval, 0.86-1.04) for the moderate group (P = 0.09). In subgroup analyses of nevi on the back, the association was stronger in boys (P < 0.001) than in girls (P = 0.7), although the test for interaction was not significant (P = 0.11). For the chest, examined in boys, the associations were similar to that for nevi on the back in boys. Associations were weak for nevi on the face and arms (P = 0.2); for this site, there was weak evidence of heterogeneity by sex. Overall, there was weak evidence that the Kidskin intervention reduced the number of new nevi over a 6-year period, but there was stronger evidence of an effect on the trunk in boys.

Objective: To identify doctor and patient characteristics associated with excision of benign versus malignant pigmented skin lesions., Design, Setting and Participants: Retrospective audit of data on 4741 pigmented skin lesions excised from November 1998 to February 2000 by 468 general practitioners (39% response rate) from 223 practices in Perth, WA. (The data used were from the baseline period of a randomised controlled trial of a diagnostic aid for pigmented skin lesions.), Main Outcome Measure: The number needed to treat (NNT), defined as the number of pigmented lesions needed to be excised to identify one melanoma, in relation to demographic characteristics of GPs and patients., Results: Relatively more benign lesions were excised per melanoma (NNT = 83) in the youngest patients (aged 10-19 years) compared with the oldest (aged > or = 70) (NNT = 11) (P [trend] < 0.001), in females (NNT = 37) compared with males (NNT = 23) (P = 0.02), and in the most socioeconomically disadvantaged (NNT = 60) compared with the least disadvantaged group (NNT = 20) (P [trend] < 0.001). The most recently graduated GPs excised more benign lesions for each melanoma (NNT = 59) than the least recently graduated (NNT = 22) (P [trend] = 0.01)., Conclusions: GPs could raise their threshold for excising pigmented lesions in patients who are young, female, or from areas of low socioeconomic status, or if the GPs themselves are recent graduates.

Objectives: To determine whether an aid to the diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions reduces the ratio of benign lesions to melanomas excised in general practice., Design: Controlled trial randomised by practice., Setting: General practices in Perth, Western Australia., Participants: 468 general practitioners in 223 practices., Interventions: Intervention practices were given an algorithm and instant camera to assist with the diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions. All practices were given national guidelines on managing melanoma., Main Outcome Measures: Ratio of benign pigmented lesions to melanomas excised. Analyses conducted with and without inclusion of seborrhoeic keratoses., Results: At baseline the ratios of benign to malignant lesions were lower in the intervention group than in the control group. During the trial period the ratios were higher in the intervention group (19:1 v 17:1 without seborrhoeic keratoses and 29:1 v 26:1 with seborrhoeic keratoses). After adjustment for patients' age, sex, and socioeconomic status, the ratio was 1.02 times higher (95% confidence interval 0.68 to 1.51, P = 0.94) in the intervention group when seborrhoeic keratoses were not included and 1.03 times higher (0.71 to 1.50, P = 0.88) when seborrhoeic keratoses were included. General practitioners in the intervention group were less likely than those in the control group to excise the most recent pigmented skin lesion they managed (22% v 48%, P < 0.001) and to refer the patient to a specialist (16% v 27%, P = 0.06)., Conclusions: Provision of the algorithm and camera did not decrease the ratio of benign pigmented skin lesions to melanomas excised by general practitioners.