Accuracy of Principal and Teacher Knowledge of School District Policies on Sun Protection in California Elementary Schools
ORIGINAL RESEARCH — Volume 15 — January 3, 2018
PEER REVIEWED
Tables
Table 1. Profile of the Samples of Elementary Schools (n = 118), Principals (n = 118), and Teachers (n = 113) Who Participated in Study of Knowledge of the School District Written Policy on Sun Protection, California Puboplic School Districts, January 2014–April 2016a
| Characteristic | Mean (SD) or % |
|---|---|
| Schools | |
| Distance from study office in Claremont, California, milesb | 133.6 (180.1) |
| Total no. of students enrolled in school | 564.6 (215.6) |
| English-learner students, % | 27.8 (17.0) |
| Fluent English-proficient students, % | 8.7 (6.6) |
| Students in free or reduced-price meal program, % | 64.1 (28.8) |
| African American students, % | 6.4 (7.6) |
| American Indian or Alaska Native students, % | 1.7 (7.3) |
| Asian students, % | 6.5 (12.8) |
| Filipino students, % | 1.6 (2.7) |
| Hispanic or Latino students, % | 54.5 (26.4) |
| Pacific Islander students, % | 0.5 (1.1) |
| Non-Hispanic white students, % | 24.0 (22.3) |
| Students identifying as ≥2 races/ethnicities | 3.6 (3.3) |
| Principals | |
| No. of years working . . . | |
| In public education in any position | 21.1 (7.1) |
| As a principal in current school district | 4.6 (4.0) |
| In current school district | 11.4 (9.2) |
| Skin type | |
| 1 (Darkest skin/lowest risk) | 28.7 |
| 2 | 28.7 |
| 3 | 25.2 |
| 4 | 17.4 |
| 5 (Lightest skin/highest risk) | 17.4 |
| Age, y | 47.8 (7.7) |
| Personal or family history of skin cancer | 39.0 |
| Hispanic ethnicity | 21.2 |
| Race | |
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 3.4 |
| Asian | 0.8 |
| Black/African American | 8.5 |
| Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander | 0.8 |
| Non-Hispanic white | 69.5 |
| More than one race/ethnicity | 5.1 |
| Prefer not to answer | 3.4 |
| None of these | 8.5 |
| Sex | |
| Female | 72.0 |
| Male | 27.1 |
| Prefer not to answer | 0.9 |
| Teachers | |
| No. of years working . . . | |
| In public education in any position | 14.3 (7.3) |
| As a teacher in current school district | 11.6 (7.5) |
| Grade(s) currently taughtc | |
| Kindergarten | 17.0 |
| Grade 1 | 17.9 |
| Grade 2 | 18.8 |
| Grade 3 | 21.4 |
| Grade 4 | 21.4 |
| Grade 5 | 18.8 |
| Grade 6 | 9.8 |
| Grade 7 | 2.7 |
| Grade 8 | 1.8 |
| No specific grade | 45.1 |
| Teach health or science curriculum | |
| No | 58.0 |
| Yes, health | 7.1 |
| Yes, science | 17.9 |
| Yes, health and science | 17.0 |
| Skin type | |
| 1 (Darkest skin/lowest risk) | 26.4 |
| 2 | 27.3 |
| 3 | 22.7 |
| 4 | 20.9 |
| 5 (Lightest skin/highest risk) | 2.7 |
| Age, y | 43.4 (10.0) |
| Personal or family history of skin cancer | 42.5 |
| Hispanic ethnicity | 22.1 |
| Race | |
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 4.4 |
| Asian | 7.1 |
| Black/African American | 4.4 |
| Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander | 2.7 |
| Non-Hispanic white | 66.4 |
| More than one race/ethnicity | 3.5 |
| Prefer not to answer | 2.6 |
| None of these | 8.9 |
| Sex | |
| Female | 86.7 |
| Male | 13.3 |
| Prefer not to answer | 0 |
a Sample consisted of California public school districts that subscribed to the California School Boards Association, had an elementary school, adopted Board Policy 5141.7 for sun safety, and posted it online from September 2013 through December 2015. Participants completed surveys from January 2014 through April 2016.
b Median, 42 miles; range, 2–809 miles; interquartile range, 30–96 miles.
c Teachers could select more than one grade level.
| Policy Component | Accurate Policy Knowledgeb, % | Inaccurate Policy Knowledgec, % | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Addressed in Policy | Not Addressed in Policy | Total | Addressed in Policy | Not Addressed in Policy | Total | |
| Principals | ||||||
| Sunscreen use | 68.4 | 5.3 | 73.7 | 2.6 | 23.7 | 26.3 |
| Ultraviolet-protective clothing use | 71.1 | 0 | 71.1 | 2.6 | 26.3 | 28.9 |
| Hat use | 76.3 | 0 | 76.3 | 2.6 | 21.1 | 23.7 |
| Educate students on sun safety | 23.7 | 21.1 | 44.8 | 10.5 | 44.7 | 55.2 |
| Educate teachers on sun safety | 0 | 84.2 | 84.2 | 15.8 | 0 | 15.8 |
| Provide outdoor shade | 23.7 | 15.8 | 39.5 | 2.6 | 57.9 | 60.5 |
| Adjust schedules so outdoor activities avoid midday | 35.1 | 13.5 | 48.6 | 2.7 | 48.7 | 51.4 |
| Communication with parents about sun safety | 32.4 | 21.6 | 54.0 | 8.1 | 37.9 | 46.0 |
| Allocate resources for sun safety | 0 | 91.9 | 91.9 | 8.1 | 0 | 8.1 |
| Encourage staff to model sun safety | 32.4 | 8.1 | 40.5 | 2.7 | 56.8 | 59.5 |
| Teachers | ||||||
| Sunscreen use | 38.5 | 7.7 | 46.2 | 7.7 | 46.1 | 53.8 |
| Ultraviolet-protective clothing use | 53.8 | 0 | 53.8 | 0 | 46.2 | 46.2 |
| Hat use | 53.8 | 0 | 53.8 | 0 | 46.2 | 46.2 |
| Educate students on sun safety | 15.4 | 30.8 | 46.2 | 7.7 | 46.2 | 53.9 |
| Educate teachers on sun safety | 0 | 92.3 | 92.3 | 7.7 | 0 | 7.7 |
| Provide outdoor shade | 30.8 | 23.1 | 53.9 | 7.7 | 38.4 | 46.2 |
| Adjust schedules so outdoor activities avoid midday | 38.5 | 15.4 | 53.9 | 0 | 46.1 | 46.1 |
| Communication with parents about sun safety | 23.1 | 23.1 | 46.2 | 15.4 | 38.4 | 53.8 |
| Allocate resources for sun safety | 0 | 92.3 | 92.3 | 7.7 | 0 | 7.7 |
| Encourage staff to model sun safety | 23.1 | 0 | 23.1 | 7.7 | 69.2 | 76.9 |
a Sample consisted of California public school districts that subscribed to the California School Boards Association, had an elementary school, adopted Board Policy 5141.7 for sun safety, and posted it online from September 2013 through December 2015. Participants completed surveys from January 2014 through April 2016.
b Accurate policy knowledge means that school district policy addressed policy component and principal said the component was addressed in the policy, or school district policy did not address policy component and principal said the component was not addressed in the policy.
c Inaccurate policy knowledge means that school district policy addressed policy component and principal said the component was not addressed in the policy, or school district policy did not address policy component and principal said the component was addressed in the policy.
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