Observers determined the sun protection level of 1927 adolescents entering
6th to 8th grades. After 2 years of intervention exposure, adolescents at the
beach/pool in intervention communities were significantly better protected than
those in control communities. Over 2 years, the percent of body surface area
protected declined by 23% in the control arm but only 8% in intervention arm.
After intervention, the average percent of body surface protected at intervention
sites (66.1%) was significantly greater than control sites (56.8%). Teens in intervention
communities reported sun-protection advice from more adult sources,
were more likely to use sunscreen, and applied it more thoroughly than controlsite
teens.