Summary
Sunproofed aims to understand how primary schools in Wales are responding to growing skin cancer rates and to explore the effectiveness of sun safety policies in schools on knowledge and behaviour.
Funded by Health and Care Research Wales under their Health Research Grant Scheme, Sunproofed is a 2-year study which finished in September 2023.
The team are currently writing up study findings for publication and will be sharing results on this page.
For a lay summary of the project, please click here.
Click here for Sunproofed Resources
Click here for Sunproofed Outcomes and Impact
Click here for Sunproofed in the Media
Click here for Related Projects
Sunproofed Resources
We are pleased to be able to share these resources developed from the study outcomes.
Sunproofed Sun Safety Flashcards (English, PDF)
Sunproofed Sun Safety Flashcards (English, PowerPoint)
Sunproofed Sun Safety Flashcards (Welsh, PDF)
Sunproofed Sun Safety Flashcards (Welsh, PowerPoint)
Sunproofed School Assembly (English, PowerPoint)
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Sunproofed Outcomes and Impact
Short Debate in the Senedd
We recently contributed evidence to a short debate on sun safety education and skin cancer prevention in the Senedd (03/07/24). The debate was led by Sioned Williams, MS, and was attended by the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle, who also gave a speech on skin cancer prevention.
For the transcript of the debate click here.
School Survey
Between June- September 2022, we sent out a brief online survey to all 1241 primary schools in Wales. Thank you to all schools that completed our survey – we had a 38% response rate from schools across Wales.
We are pleased to report that our first results paper has now been accepted in Clinical Experimental Dermatology. Here we report that only 39% of Welsh primary schools who responded to our survey had formal sun safety policies. Read the full paper here.
For more information about what the survey involved please read the Sunproofed School Survey Information Sheet in English or in Welsh.
We look forward to sharing more survey results very soon.
Co- Production Event
In September 2023 we hosted a co-production event in which parents, teachers, school governors, healthy school coordinators and skin cancer prevention experts discussed what needed to be included in any sun safety guidelines. Please see this short video for more information.
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Publications
Click on the links below to read publications resulting from Sunproofed:
Are Welsh primary schools Sunproofed? Results of a national survey
Part 1: Scoping the landscape of sun safety policies in Wales Part 2: Sun protection practices in primary schools in Wales
Sun safety education in a maritime climate (a Perspectives Paper)
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Sunproofed in the Media
PLoS ONE, May 2022: We’re pleased to announce that our protocol paper has been selected to appear in the PLOS showcase on Kudos, helping to ensure our research reaches an even wider audience of academics, policymakers, journalists and funders worldwide
BBC News, July 2023: No such thing as a healthy tan – consultant dermatologist
BBC Cymru Fyw, Gorffennaf 2023: Rhybudd gwyddonwyr am beryglon yr haul yng Nghymru
Please click the further links below to see how further word is getting out about this important study!
School Survey Launch
Health and Care Research Wales: Primary schools in Wales encouraged to take part in sun safety study
Wrexham: Primary schools in Wales encouraged to take part in sun safety study
The Wave: Calls for more to be done to protect staff and pupils during future heatwaves!
Project Introduction
Swansea University promotes the Sunproofed study: Sun safety for children – new research will explore the role of primary schools in preventing skin cancer
Scienmag: Sun safety for children – new research will explore the role of primary schools in preventing skin cancer
Swansea University Population Data Science Research Blog: SAIL Databank to shed light on sun safety policy in welsh primary schools
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News & Updates
Sunproofed at the 2024 Swansea Half Marathon
We were pleased to be invited to share our study findings and promote sun safety awareness at this year’s Swansea Half Marathon on June 9! The Race had thousands of attendees, many of whom visited our Sunproofed stall to test out our UV camera and learn about the UV index. Visitors were invited to write on post-it notes something they would do differently in the future to protect themselves from the sun. Here are some key takeaways they learned:
How will visitors of the Swansea Half Marathon stay safe in the sun?
- Check the UV Index: Many attendees committed to regularly checking the UV index.
Apply Sunscreen at UV 3: Several individuals pledged to start applying sunscreen whenever the UV index reaches 3. Only 35.2% of visitors to the stand were aware that when the UV index reaches 3, you need to think about protecting your skin. - Ensure Full Coverage: Participants noted they will be more diligent in applying sunscreen, ensuring full coverage of their face, especially around the nose, forehead, hairline, and mouth.
- Reapply Sunscreen Frequently: Many visitors realised the importance of reapplying sunscreen more often and applying it at least 20 minutes before sun exposure.
These insights highlight the proactive steps people are now taking to stay safe in the sun, thanks to the awareness raised by Sunproofed at the Swansea Half Marathon.
Cardiff Skin Cancer Annual Update meeting
Dr Julie Peconi presented findings to over 100 dermatologists in November 2023.
Contributing to a Prosperous Wales Colloquium
Dr Julie Peconi gave a flash talk at the Learned Society of Wales Early Career Researchers Network meeting in July 2023. For more details click here.
Watch this space for future updates about the project including results!
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Related Projects
SunView
SunView is an exciting project funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales as part of their RWIF Collaboration Booster External Engagement Fund. Showcasing findings from the Sunproofed study, SunView is one of 50 new exhibits at Oriel Science on the theme of ‘Imaging’. The exhibit, and corresponding educational workshops, aim to raise levels of awareness of the need for sun protection by engaging the local community and showing them just how valuable sun cream is. The SunView exhibit includes a UV camera and fun sun safety quizzes for children and their parents/carers. Since July 2023, Oriel Science has welcomed 2532 visitors. We have also conducted educational workshops with 191 children focusing on UV light and sun protection.
SunChat
We are pleased to announce that we have received funding from MASI (Morgan Advanced Studies Institute) for our SunChat project, which aims to encourage children to have healthy behaviours towards tanning and sun exposure despite perceptions that tanned skin is more attractive and healthier looking (Thoonen 2021). We are pleased to be doing this spin off project, involving cross-faculty working to tackle a known health problem in a unique way. For more information, please visit SunChat.
Sunproofed+: Transforming evidence into practice and policy
Sunproofed+: Transforming evidence into practice and policy, a Swansea University Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) Impact Fellowship awarded to Sunproofed Chief Investigator Julie Peconi, will disseminate and share results from Sunproofed. With this grant, the Team will continue to push sun safety up the agenda in schools, the community, and politically so that sun protection receives the same public health emphasis as healthy eating and exercising.
Sun Safety Guidelines
We have been granted funding from The Greatest Need to design and produce sun safety guidelines which will be sent to every Welsh primary school. To see more about what The Greatest Need team do, please click here.
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Get Involved/Contact Us
Public involvement is a big part of Sunproofed and our related studies. If you are a parent, caregiver or school, please watch this space for opportunities on how you can get involved.
If you would like to discuss the study, please contact us via email at Sunproofed@swansea.ac.uk
X: https://twitter.com/sunproofed
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Contact Details
Trial Manager / Lead Contact: Dr Julie Peconi
Phone: 01792 606226
Email: j.peconi@swansea.ac.uk
