Knowledge Matters: October 2009This is a featured page

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Knowledge Matters Canada's Monthly School Health Report Volume 4, Issue 2 (October).
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This issue features news items, resources and research on sun safety and schools. See below for an extensive listing of research, news reports and educational and planning resources.

Canadian SH News Items from last Month (September 2009)
(For the latest news, go to our weekly blog, check the daily changes on our news page or follow us on Twitter)

Summary


Media reports this month continued to be filled with stories about influenza, as governments, school boards and schools across Canada prepared for outbreaks. the criteria and process for closing schools continues to be a question mark. And, at the end of the month, a Canadian report that suggests that handwashing may not be as effective as a preventive measure has caused considerable concern. In other news, two schools in New Brunswick and Ontario were closed due to radon concerns.

Despite its recent interest in the H1N1 situation and the declaration of member concerns for student health, the recent Council of Ministers communiqué from their last meeting and their new joint report with Statistics Canada on education indicators fail to report any decisions about monitoring student learning about health.

Chronological Listing of Canadian News Items (Provided from the international school health blog (www.schoolhealthinsider.org)

News Story (Oct 1-09) Number of H1N1 cases rising slowly: latest Public Health Agency of Canada figures http://jne4v.tk

News Story (Oct 1-09) CMAJ questions value of hand washing in flu prevention http://eardo.tk

News Story (Sep 25-09) CDC: Hand-Washing Won't Stop H1N1 http://y0tab.tk

News Story (Sep 30-09) New Brunswick Parents block school doors over radon fears http://59smw.tk

News Story (Sep 30-09) HPV vaccinations begin in Hamilton. http://n752c.tk

News Perspective. Ottawa Citizen. H1N1 diagnosis: confusion, frustration, anxiety http://v2edo.tk

News Story (Sep 29-09) University of Alberta study shows inner-city kids scared to play outside http://8coxp.tk

News Story (Sep 28-09) Canadian School principal in Hong Kong dies after swine flu http://9gi4w.tk

News Story Sep 27-09) Calgary schools phasing out junk foods http://8llik.tk

News Story (Sep 22-09) Montreal Schools Promote Heandwashing http://6skuj.tk

News Story (Sep 16-09) New Brunswick School district takes flu threat seriously http://dpi6i.tk

News Story (Sep 23-09) Flu keeping B.C. kids home from school as virus season gets early start http://gt4fb.tk

News Release (Sep 23-09) PEI Introduces New Accelerated Training Program for Early Childhood Educators http://c0clz.tk

News Story (Sep 22-09) Radon levels could close schools in Misissaugha http://v17sm.tk

Report (2009) Salt in Canadian Diets (CSPI) http://vrf2u.tk

News Story (Sep 20-09) Mental health worries grow among Canadian university students http://rkzqs.tk

News Story (Sep 17-09) Community Schools Part of Nova Scotia Throne Speech. http://it7av.tk

News Story (Sep 17-09) H1N1 is expected to hit BC schools the hardest http://ux3yi.tk

News Release. Sep 15-09. BC Healthy Living Alliance releases its report “Healthy Futures for BC Families http://s0pb3.tk

News Story Sep 15 Peterborough Elementary schools receive grants from local health unit http://3k6lv.tk

Perspective. Newspaper Editorial (Sep 14-09). Toronto, Canada. Principals need power to keep kids safe http://bit.ly/qDVo0

News Story Sep 14 Ottawa School's health clinic goes unstaffed http://ppew4.tk

News Release (Sep 11-09) PEI Minister Currie Recognizes World Suicide Prevention Day http://lpfu4.tk

News Release (Sep 11-09) Federal Funding for Northwestern Health Unit for the Youth Action on Drugs project. http://926a8.tk

News Story (Sept 10-09) Canadian Young people take pass on flu-shot trials http://u75i0.tk

News Release (Sep 10-09) Manitoba Launches School Campaign on Physical Activity. http://pgq4x.tk

News Story (Sept 11-09) Ontario teens' charges in hazing shed light on new age of zero tolerance http://pccgy.tk

News Story (Sept 9-09) Olympic school program launch coincides with cuts in BC http://tctdk.tk

News Story (Sept 9-09) B.C. schools face cuts to libraries, lunch programs http://wx1zm.tk

Perspective. Columnist. Cops in schools: Sometimes needed, if not always trusted http://vx65n.tk

News release Sep 8-09) Ontario Kids Learn ABCs About H1N1 http://bit.ly/2lzSlC

News Story (Sept 7-09) Globe & Mail Hosted Discussion on Flu http://twu6v.tk

News Story (Sept 11-09) H1N1 could peak early, study suggests http://eydyn.tk

News Story (Sept 11-09) 56 per cent of Canadian adults 18 to 34 years say they don’t intend to get the H1N1 vaccine http://62p85.tk

News Story (Sept 8-09) 3 hours on bus too long, says home and school http://tlu98.tk

News Story (Sept 8-09) Swine flu confirmed at Vancouver school http://biv9h.tk

News Story (Sept 9-09) Canadian Kids' eating habits have worsened since '98 http://8sih8.tk

News Release (Sep 9-09) Newfoundland Safe, Healthy Schools a Priority as New School Year Begins http://m14ff.tk
News Story (Sept 8-09) Public-health and education officials encourage parents and teachers to send students with flu home. http://4bsx9.tk

News Story (Sept 8-09) Young Canadian smokers choosing contraband cigarettes http://n1pda.tk

Research Summary. Best practice guidelines for mental health promotion programs: Children & Youth (CAMH-Canada) http://6cb8w.tk

News Release (Sept 8-09) Canadian Education Statistics Council Releases New Indicators in Education http://kis1i.tk

News Release (Sep 3-09) Education Ministers Meeting Communique Mentions H1N1, OECD Meeting http://8yrs1.tk
News release (Sep 2-09) New Brunswick Ed Ministers notes PE in School September Comments http://sp54z.tk

News Release (Aug 18-09) New Brunswick will not seek appeal in Morgentaler case http://a1id3.tk

Knowledge Network News

  • The National School Health Conference for 2009-10 will be held in Halifax in mid-April. Watch for more details here.
  • Communities of Practice related to a variety of health and social issues, including Nutrition, Substance Abuse, Mental Health, Aboriginal Students and more are underway. To find out more see: http://www.safehealthyschools.org/communitiesofpracticeintro.htm or contact candrew@cash-aces.ca.
  • The Fall (2009) issue of the CTF-CASH Health and Learning Magazine will be distributed by email to school boards and schools across Canada this month.
  • All of the presentations from the successful Settings for All Conference held in Gatineau, Quebec in May 2009 have been posted on the CCL Health & Learning Knowledge Centre web pages
  • The 2009-10 series of SH webinars is underway. Find out more at: http://www.safehealthyschools.org/webinars/introduction.htm.The current schedule contains eight of the planned 30 sessions.
  • CASH has working with the National Collaborating Centre on Aboriginal Health, the CCL Aboriginal Learning Centre and the Centre of Excellence on Special Needs to prepare a culturally relevant approach to SH for aboriginal students, schools and communities. A literature review and inventory has been completed. A statement of principles has been developed and can be found at: http://aboriginalschoolhealth.wetpaint.com/ CASH is pleased to announce that it will be working with the Centre on Addictions & Mental Health at the University of Western Ontario on a handbook/webinar project that will provide advice and tools to implement the principles established in the paper.
  • Members of the Community of Practice on Substance Abuse Prevention and all Knowledge Network members are invited to comment on the national School Standards being prepared by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. Go to our wiki-based work space to add your comments and edits at: http://draftshpapers.wetpaint.com/
  • Members of the Mental Health Community of Practice and all other members of the Knowledge Network are invited to describe their knowledge needs for school-based mental health programs through our mini-polls onhot topics in School Mental Health and on preferred methods in knowledge exchange.
  • The CSH Knowledge Network list of SH contacts has grown to over 2900 people and over 250 agencies/individuals have either paid a membership fee or contributed their time/expertise to receive additional services. The next step begins this month, as we move the contacts list and other communications into a professional networking web site at www.canadianschoolhealth.ca. Agencies, organizations and individuals wil be able to post theor own profiles, interact with others and visit/receive RSS feeds from the daily blog of SH news. Go here for more details: http://canadianschoolhealthprofiles.wetpaint.com/

Reports, Research and Resources on Sun Safety and Schools
Using a Twitter account to collect information from the web very quickly, CASH is pleased to provide this report prepared for a pilot project funded by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. This project included the development of a national Community of Practice on Sun Safety and Environmental Health.

Preliminary Scan of Some of the Evidence Identifying Better Practices in school-based and school-linked Health Promotion, Sun Safety and Cancer Prevention

This preliminary review of some of the research was done as part of a feasibility project assessing the role that schools could play in promoting sun safety. Although it was not possible to conduct a thorough research literature review as part of the preparation of this overview, we did want to ensure that strategic considerations as discussed in the preceding section of this report were based on research evidence suggesting that school-based interventions to prevent cancer, promote sun safety and overall health are effective. Consequently, we undertook a preliminary review of the research literature. The preliminary review did locate a number of research citations and reviews sufficient to re-assure ourselves of this conclusion. In summary, we found that:

  1. The behavioral research underlying school-based sun safety programs is consistent with theories and models such as social learning theory and has been applied effectively to this issue.

  2. A realistic role for schools, working with parents and other community agencies, in preventing skin cancer includes specific curriculum/instructional content, promoting staff awareness, referring students with sun burns to health staff, building shade structures on school grounds, informing parents, helping to denormalize beliefs about the health of tanned skin, and organizing sun-safe school activities such as recess, lunch hours, sports days and field trips.

  3. This approach is consistent with the coordinated, multi-intervention school health programs and whole school strategies developed for other health issues. A comprehensive approach suggests that sun safety can be linked successfully with programs promoting ecological sustainability and addressing other environmental health issues. Cooperation between "healthy" schools and "green" schools will be synergistic.

  4. The research evidence available suggests that these interventions will be effective in reducing sun exposure for younger students and can help to establish behaviour patterns among younger students. More research and program development is required for older students to counteract the social influences promoting unsafe sun practices such as tanning and the use of tanning stores.

  5. It would appear that schools in sunny, hot climates around the world are already responding with good programs but more work is required to convey the message that colder climates and exposure even in winter (eyes, faces) is of concern.

  6. Like many other school health issues, implementation and sustainability issues are just beginning to be addressed by researchers concerned with school sun safety programs.

  7. There are several good Canadian program and educational materials available and there are well-evaluated programs that have been developed in Europe, the United States and Australia that can be adapted to Canadian communities and schools.

List of Research References, Reports and Resources

The remainder of this document presents the findings of a preliminary scan of the research literature as well as the Internet. In the list of web-linked research references found below, we have identified major case studies and research reviews. In the listing of web-linked reports and resources (educational, planning, policy and training tools), we have tried to provide a time-saving and convenient resources for the school health community. While much further examination and further searching is required,m we hope that this listing provides a quick start for program planning and development. The listing is presented under these headings:
  • Prevalence and nature of the problem among young people
  • Specific Risks, Behaviours and Conditions
  • Impact of School's Social and Physical Environment
  • Holistic, Contextual and Comprehensive Approaches
  • Effectiveness of Coordinated Programs and Services
  • Evidence-based Single Interventions/Programs (Policy, Intruction, Services, Social Support, Physical Environment)
  • Use of Evidenced-based Implementation Strategies (Diffusion theory, Capacity Building, Sustainability, Community Context, Future Research)

Prevalence & Nature of the Problem Among Young People

This sub-section lists items that explain the problem of skin cancer among young people and approaches that seem to be more effective or efficient. A holistic approach to behaviour change is often suggested by the research evidence.

Preliminary Findings:
  • A number of studies of adolescent and adult behaviours indicate that substantial numbers of young people do not follow basic health advice about risky prolonged exposure to the sun. These include minimizing exposure at mid-day, accessing shade, wearing protective clothing, using an effective sunscreen, wearing sunglasses and avoiding sunlamps and tanning beds
  • The Canadian studies located in this preliminary search (Rhainds et al, 1999; Purdue, 2002; Lovato et al, 1998) show that Canadian behaviours are similar to those in other countries.
  • It would appear that younger children are more apt to follow health advice about exposure than teens and young adults who are less likely to do so because of media, peer, and other social influences (Hoerster et al, 2007; Myers & Horswill, 2006).
  • Our preliminary searching located several good explanations of sun-related behaviours among young people that were founded on well-recognized behaviour theories (Myers & Horswill, 2006; Dadlani & Orlow, 2008; Stanton et al, 2005; De Vries et al, 2006; Olsen et al, 2007; Pagota et al, 2004).
  • Students and staff that were more likely to practice safer sun-related behaviours were also more likely to follow good health advice about other health behaviours such as smoking, diet and activity.

ResearchReports & Resources
  • Sunsense Summary (Canadian Cancer Society) describes the risk factors for skin cancer, the need for sunscreens, proper clothing for protection from the sun, how tanning salons are not safe and suspicious changes on skin to look for when we monitor our own health.

  • Canadian Dermatology Association This bilingual site provides practical information on sun protection, including the role of sunscreen in an overall sun protection program; a list of CDA recognized sunscreens in alphabetical order by brand name; and sun safety tips for athletes and spectators. The site also provides advice for parents and daycare personnel on how to integrate safe sun practices into children's programs.

  • Environment Canada – UV Index and Sun Protection This bilingual site provides information on the UV Index, North American and Caribbean forecasts, sun protection and the UV Index Sun Awareness Program for students.

Speci
fic Risks, Behaviours and Conditions

This sub-section examines specific risks and behaviours related to sun safety. These include fair skin, exposure to sunlight at mid-day and other factors and conditions.

Preliminary Findings:
  • Similar to other broad health issues, it appears that programs and interventions are more likely to be effective if they are target specific behaviours or conditions. These include the proper use of sun screens, wearing protective clothing, de-normalizing tanning and the use of tanning beds, creating and accessing shade, educating students or staff, awareness campaigns just prior to specific events such as graduation dances and so on.

ResearchReports/Resources


Impact of School's Social and Physical Environment
This sub-section examines the impact of the social and physical environment of the school as a place in which students and staff spend considerable time. Physical conditions and facilities in the school can contribute to health. As well, prevailing social norms, beliefs and misconceptions from the media and the community can be either reproduced or debunked in the school social environment.

Preliminary Findings:
  • Shade structures or the lack of shade on school grounds can contribute to skin cancer
  • The social norm that tanned skin is "healthier" or better looking can either be reproduced in activities such as visits to tanning stores prior to student social events or they can be addressed through peer and school awareness programs.

ResearchReports & Resources


Holistic, Contextual and Comprehensive Approaches
This sub-section examines holistic, contextual and comprehensive approaches include the whole child, all children (especially vulnerable), developmental stages/life course, clusters of behaviours and conditions(eg mental health, crime, tobacco, sexual risk-taking, dropouts), community and systems context analysis, synergistic combinations of strategies and initiatives (e.g. police officers, safe schools, character education, early childhood programs), multi-level , intersectorial strategies, programs and policies).

Preliminary Findings:
  • There are two broad sets of related health issues to which sun safety can be successfully linked. The connection to other cancers and hence to other chronic diseases such as obesity, heart disease and other conditions can lead to a focus on promoting healthier lifestyle choices (healthy eating, not smoking, being active, staying out of the sun, etc). Another broad set of issues are in the environmental health arena, where sub safety proponents can partner with other promoting ecological sustainability and changes to the physical environment and our consumption patterns.We found some programs that did the latter.

ResearchReports & Resources

Effectiveness of Coordinated Programs and Services
This sub-section examines coordinated, multi-intervention programs. Where possible, we differentiate between Coordinated School-Community Programs (CSHP) and Whole-School Programs (HPS) involving only school-based personnel.

Preliminary Findings:
  • While some reviews of the evidence have indicated that school, pre-school, college and workplace, recreation and other settings-based multi-intervention programs can be effective (Knowledge Exchange Network, 2008, Primary Prevention Action Group, 2009) there are other reviews stating that there is insufficient evidence available for high school and college/university programs ( Centers for Disease Control, 2003).
  • The impact of school-based programs on sun-related health appears to be concentrated in significant changes to awareness, knowledge, and behaviour change among younger students. We did not locate any longitudinal studies. no studies examining the relationship between sun safety and educational achievement were found. One study noted the economic benefits of prevention programs
ResearchReports & Resources
Coordinated SH Programs (School-Agency-Community)
Whole School (HPS) involving only school personnel in delivery

  • Sun Safe Community & School Program (Canadian Best Practices Portal) The program aims to enhance and promote sun protection of children ages 2 -9 years through the delivery of a multicomponent intervention in three settings: elementary schools and daycare centers, town beach areas, and primary care practices.

Evidence-based Single Interventions/Programs
This sub-section examines single intervention programs in five areas with various aspects; policy (school board, other agencies), instruction (curriculum, educational materials and methods, teacher training, etc), health and other services (screening, early identification, school clinics, access to youth friendly services, case coordination and referrals etc); social support (parent involvement, peer programs, working with local media, working with social media etc), phtsical environment (school grounds, facilities, transportation etc)

Preliminary Findings:
  • Multi-intervention programs that influence several aspects of the school setting are likely to be more effective. However, they are also more time-consuming, complicated or costly to implement, more difficult to sustain and more difficult to evaluate.
  • Several specific intervention programs, particularly sun safety education for primary students and staff awareness programs, have been reported to be effective in large scale random controlled trials
  • Comprehensive guidelines and examples of evaluated comprehensive, multi-intervention programs are readily available from other countries. Canadian materials and adaptations are available on some of the interventions.

ResearchReports & Resources

Policy Interventions
  • Buller, D., Buller, M.K., & Reynolds, K. (2006). A survey of sun protection policy and education in secondary schools. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 54(3), 427–432.
  • Dobbinson, S., Peipers, A., Borland, R., & Nolan, K. (2000). Are Victorian primary schools Sunsmart? Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 10, 43–50
  • Eakin, P., Maddock, J., Techur-Pedro, A., Kaliko, R., & Derauf, C. (2004). Sun protection policy in elementary schools in Hawaii. Preventing Chronic Disease, 1, 1-10.
  • Emmons, K., Geller, A., Viswanath, V., Rutsch, L., Zwirn, J., Gorham, S., & Puleo, E. (2008). The SunWise Policy Intervention for School-Based Sun Protection: A Pilot Study. Journal of School Nursing, 24(4), 215–221.
Instructional Interventions Health and Other Services Interventions Social Support Interventions

Physical Environment Interventions

Policy Resources
  • Guidelines to Prevent Skin Cancer (US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) These guidelines were designed to provide schools with a comprehensive approach to preventing skin cancer among adolescents and young people. CDC worked with specialists in dermatology, pediatrics, public health, and education from universities; national, federal, state, and voluntary agencies; schools; and other organizations to develop these guidelines.

  • School Sun-Safety Policy Development Resources
    (California Dept of Health) One-page list of skin cancer prevention policy templates and background information for use in school settings.

  • Sample School Board Policy on Sun Safety
    Sample policy from the Los Angeles Metropolitan Dermatological Society

Instructional Resources

  • Sunny Days Healthy Ways (Canadian Best Practices Portal) This skin cancer prevention curriculum is a comprehensive course for children in Grades 4, 5, and 6. The five-session curriculum presents material from science, history, social studies, health and geography in a comprehensive and cause-and-consequence presentation about the relationship between humans and the sun

  • Sunsense Quiz (Canadian Cancer Society)
    How much do you really know about sun protection and skin cancer?Test your knowledge.

  • Environment Canada – UV Index and Sun Protection This bilingual site provides information on the UV Index, North American and Caribbean forecasts, sun protection and the UV Index Sun Awareness Program for students.

  • Fortune teller: A fun resource for primary school age children (BC Cancer Society) This resource provides general information for primary school age children on healthy sun-safe lifestyles and risk reduction, not skin cancer. Instruction for assembly of the resource is included.

  • Sun Safety Learning Activity Package (Cancer Care Nova Scotia) This package is a compilation of learning activities developed by recognized leaders in sun safety and skin cancer prevention.They are intended to be used with students to raise awareness and educate on the importance of sun safety practices.

  • Sun Safety Teaching Materials (California Dept of Health) Two-page list of skin cancer prevention curriculums, resource guides, videos, and UV-reactive promotional items designed for use to instruct pre-school children through age 12.

  • Sunsmart Online Teacher Training (Western Australia)
    Professional development for early childhood, primary and secondary teachers and school health nurses.

  • Sunsmart Online Student Module (Western Australia)
    Online interactive student education.

  • Sunny Days Healthy Ways - Elementary School (Grades K-5) Designed to increase awareness and promote sun protection behavior and practices among K-5th grade students.

Health and Other Services Interventions





Social Support Interventions

  • Health Canada – Smart Summer Fun This bilingual site gives tips on how to be smart while having fun this summer in Canada. There are sections on air quality, sun safety and skin cancer, playing safe, food and drink and enjoying the great outdoors. The Summer Fun quiz tests your knowledge on smart summer fun.

  • Pool Cool (Canadian Best Practices Portal)
    This pool-based program can be used with schools andf after school programs. It aims to increase sun-protection habits in parents, swimming instructors and children. Its main objective is to increase awareness, motivation, and sun protection practices among children ages 5-10 who take swimming lessons, their parents, aquatics staff, and other pool users

  • Choose Your Cover The Choose Your Cover Campaign was a five–year skin cancer prevention and education campaign sponsored by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although campaign activities concluded in May 2003, some campaign materials are still available online.

  • Successful School-Based Skin Cancer Prevention Activities (California Dept of Health) Discover what award winning schools do to integrate sun-safety activities.

  • Together for Sun Safety Interventions oriented to children's parents and caregivers. Awareness building and Behavior Modification.

Physical Environment Interventions

  • Shade Planning for America's Schools* [pdf 1Mb]. This manual was created to support school communities in their implementation of CDC's Guidelines for School Programs to Prevent Skin Cancer, and can help district school health or wellness councils, and school health teams, ensure that school grounds have adequate shade.

  • Healthy School Environments Assessment Tool
    (Environmental Protection Agency) The Healthy School Environments Assessment Tool (HealthySEATv2) is a fully customizable and easy to use software program designed to help school districts evaluate and manage ALL of their environmental, safety and health issues.


Use of Evidenced-based Implementation Strategies
This sub-section examines the use of research-based implementation strategies drawn from health promotion (eg PRECEDE planning model) or education (eg Concerns-based Adoption Model). We also looked for references and resources that described the use of "local mechanisms" such as training champions or truly engaging staff. As well, we looked to items that examined "local drivers" of change/resistance such provincial directives, local incidents or local personalities/relationships. This sub-section also examines system, agency, school and professional capacity in areas such as coordinated policy, mechanisms for cooperation, assigning staff to coordination, regular monitoring and reporting, workforce development, planning for sustainability and strategic management of issues. We also looked to adaptations to local community contexts or higher risk populations.

Preliminary Findings:
  • The state of research on school sun safety is similar to other health issues in that it is just now that researchers are turning their attention to implementation and sustainability issues
  • Not surprisingly, and similar to other physical health issues and social behaviours, our preliminary search identified some research and measurement issues that are relevant to the school setting. Essentially, these issues revolve around the reliability of self-reporting of social behaviours and then technicalities related to measuring a physical change in health status
ResearchReports & Resources

Use of Diffusion and Education Change Knowledge/Theory
Use of Capacity-Building Knowledge/Theory and Sustainability

Consideration of Ecology and System Characteristics
  • Reynolds, K., Buller, D., Yaroch, A., Maloy, J., & Cutter, G. (2005). Mediation of a middle school skin cancer prevention program. Health Psychology, 5, 616-625

Consideration of Different Community, Cultural Contexts



Questions related to Future and Current Research








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