Sun Prevention Fun (SPF): a Multicomponent Sun Prevention Program for Children in Kindergarten and First Grade

Skin cancer is an important topic in the United States due to the recent increase in cost and mortality. The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to determine if the early implementation of a multicomponent sun prevention program positively impacted kindergarten and first grade students’ knowledge and behavioral intentions to practice safe sun techniques after a one week period. Kotter’s Model of Change and the ACE Star model were utilized to guide this EBP project. An exhaustive review of the literature yielded 12 articles which were used to develop best practices for education on sun safety. The quality of the evidence was evaluated using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool. Kindergarten and first grade students of a public Midwestern elementary school were invited to participate. The project leader obtained IRB approval and parental consent, collected demographics, and created an original sun prevention program using child-friendly strategies. The sun prevention program was implemented thirty minutes per day for four days. The program interventions included the educational themes: safari time, take a splash, block party, and Ray’s future. An original tool that measured the students’ knowledge and behavioral intentions was utilized to evaluate project success. Outcomes were measured using a paired t-test and compared the pre-test and post-test results. The four day multicomponent sun prevention program for students in kindergarten and first grade was significant for the pre-test to post-test knowledge results (t (1) = -9.567, p