Lead researcher
Suzanne Dobbinson, Melanie Wakefield, Vicki White and external colleagues - Vanessa White, Kris Jamsen, Trish Livingston, Dallas English and Julie Simpson
Years funded
2004 - present
Despite awareness of skin cancer prevention messages, the majority of Australian adolescents desire a suntan and under-use personal sun protection methods.
This intervention study examined the effects of building shade sails in secondary schools to examine whether students used or avoided built shade. In a controlled study involving a total of 51 Melbourne schools, we found more students used the newly shaded intervention sites, compared with full-sun control sites. There was no evidence of shade avoidance.
Funding Body
VicHealth, National Health & Medical Research Council