The impact of skin cancer education and skin self-examination on mothers’ sun protection behaviours: a randomised controlled trial

Background: Skin cancer is a serious disease that is now widespread, affecting many people globally. It has a high mortality rate both worldwide and in Türkiye. This study investigated the effect of educating parents of secondary school students about skin cancer, skin self-examination (SSE), and sun protection behaviors on their children’s sun protection behaviors. Methods: The study was conducted as a randomized controlled experimental study. The study sample consisted of 240 parents. Data were collected using an introductory information form, the skin cancer and sun knowledge scale (SCSKS), and the parental sun protection scale (PSPS). Results: After training, the number of parents in the experimental group who applied SSE to their children increased to 59.2% (p<0.001). However, this rate was determined as 10.8% in the control group. Significant increases were observed in the total SCSKS score (16.02±3.64) and the sun protection (4.63±1.28), tanning (7.45±1.98), and skin cancer prevention (1.54±0.59) subdimensions in intervention group (p<0.001). After training, a positive and significant difference was observed in the outcome for PSPS self-efficacy subdimension as well as for the sun avoidance scale- product usage expectations subdimension in the experimental group (p<0.05). Conclusions: There was also an increase in the number of parents performing SSE on their children. Parents have an impact on their children’s health. Therefore, educating parents is critical both in terms of their own sun protection behaviors and for those of their children. It is recommended that intervention studies be conducted with larger sample groups.