Sun protection policies and practices in New Zealand primary schools.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To assess sun protection policies and practices in New Zealand primary schools. METHODS: Principals at 1,243 schools (62% of eligible primary schools) completed a survey about school 1) provision of personal and environmental sun protection, 2) sun protection practices. RESULTS: Virtually all schools (94%) had a sun protection policy/procedure about which their community was informed (96%). Nearly three-quarters (72%) allowed only sun-protective hats, 28% allowed caps. Almost all schools either enforced or encouraged student hat wearing outdoors. Three-quarters of schools encouraged students to wear broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF30 and most (93%) provided sunscreen at least some of the time. Three-quarters of schools (74%) had at least sufficient shade for passive activities like eating lunch. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial improvement in sun protection in primary school settings was observed since a previous survey, but sun protection remains inadequate in many schools and vulnerable students throughout New Zealand deserve equitable protection. Skin cancer is New Zealand's most common cancer, but also highly preventable, yet primary prevention in school settings is not resourced from public funds. Appropriate school sun protection policies and practices can potentially reduce students' exposure to excessive UVR and ultimately reduce skin cancer risk.