Testing an educational program to improve sun protective behaviour of Queensland teenagers.

The intervention focuses on: (1) encouraging supportive sun protective attitudes and beliefs, (2) fostering perceptions of normative support for sun protection behaviour, and (3) increasing perceptions of control/self-efficacy over using sun protection. The study will involve 4 public and 4 private schools in Queensland. Intervention sessions will be facilitated by trained persons from either Cancer Council Queensland or Queensland University of Technology. Facilitators and Queensland University of Technology researcher staff will be authorised to deliver the intervention with secondary school students during school hours, and all study staff directly involved with the participants and the running of the intervention will have a current Positive Notice Blue Card (a safety check card that allows access to work with children). The facilitators and Queensland University of Technology researcher staff will follow the directions of supervising school staff regarding access to child participants and the location of testing. Testing will take place in an accessible area designated by the school principal or supervising teacher, in proximity to normal classroom activities. As required by the Health & Safety requirements for Queensland schools, the supervising teacher will be aware of the intervention testing circumstances. Assistance will be available from school staff when required. The facilitators and Queensland University of Technology researcher staff will follow the required procedures for visitors to the school. Each intervention session of 1 hour per session and occurring once a week over a three week timeline will address a different construct. Week one will be designed to encourage supportive sun protection related attitudes and beliefs. Week two will focus on fostering perceptions of friendship group normative support for sun protection. Week three will aim to increase perceptions of control/self-efficacy over using sun protection. Activities for the intervention will include group based discussions, practical sessions on being sun safe (e.g., applying sunscreen correctly), watching relevant sun safety DVDs, and students creating their own internet and/or text message campaigns to encourage sun safety amongst young people. At the conclusion of each session, participants and facilitators will evaluate program content, materials, and delivery.