Requirement to upskill preservice health and PE teachers to improve sun safe HPE pedagogies and school sun protection routines
June 29, 2022
Abstract
Background:
School-based physical activity is a global priority. However, HPE lessons, breaks, sporting and other physical activities often correspond with peak ultraviolet (UV) times, leaving youth particularly susceptible to harmful UV overexposure.
Purpose:
To investigate pre-service teacher UV awareness and perceived knowledge, skills and confidence to teach sun safety.
Method:
Preservice teachers (n=275) from an Australian University completed a baseline survey investigating UV awareness and perceived knowledge, skills and confidence to teach sun safety. Participants also attended a brief university-based intervention and completed a post-test survey (n = 161) with a random sample invited to attend one-on-one interviews and focus groups. Social Cognitive Theory and the Social Ecological Model informed the intervention with triangulation mixed-methods design used to guide data analysis
Findings:
Post intervention, 93.3% reported they felt more informed about the dangers of UV and skin cancer risks, with most feeling more confident (92%), knowledgeable (92.1%) and skilled (87.4%) to teach sun safety.
Conclusions:
Teachers are highly influential role models in developing young peoples sun safe routines and practices. Supplementing existing teacher education programs to upskill preservice teachers before they enter schools may provide a sustainable strategy to improve sun safe HPE pedagogies and school sun protection routines.
Source:
Conference presentation