Posters
Presenting Author Academic/Professional Position
Smaran Marupudi
Academic Level (Author 1)
Medical Student
Academic Level (Author 2)
Medical Student
Academic Level (Author 3)
Medical Student
Academic Level (Author 4)
Medical Student
Academic Level (Author 5)
Medical Student
Discipline Track
Community/Public Health
Abstract Type
Research/Clinical
Abstract
Background: Skin cancer is a preventable disease that remains underrecognized among adolescents and Hispanic populations. Misconceptions about personal risk and ineffective sun protection habits persist, contributing to delayed diagnosis and poor outcomes, particularly in underserved communities. This project evaluated the impact of a brief, station-based educational intervention delivered during a dermatology-focused workshop for high school students. The goal was to improve sun safety behaviors, knowledge of skin cancer risk in Hispanic populations, and overall confidence in personal sun protection.
Methods: High school participants rotated through a "Skin Cancer and Sun Safety" station as part of a larger dermatology outreach event. At this station, students received a short interactive presentation covering common myths, proper sunscreen use, and guidance on self-skin checks. Participants completed pre- and post-surveys assessing five domains: (1) confidence in protecting their skin from the sun, (2) frequency of sunscreen use, (3) how often they perform skin self-checks, (4) knowledge of skin cancer risk in Hispanics, and (5) understanding of the best prevention strategy. Response pattern shifts were analyzed using chi-square tests to assess statistical significance.
Results: A total of 97 pre-surveys and 94 post-surveys were collected. The proportion of students who correctly identified daily sunscreen use as best practice increased significantly from 19.8% to 47.8% (p = 0.0002, Cramér’s V = 0.32). Knowledge of the recommended frequency for skin self-checks (“once a month”) improved significantly from 54.2% to 77.5% (p = 0.0077, Cramér’s V = 0.25). Understanding that skin cancer is often diagnosed late in Hispanic populations increased from 49.5% to 73.9% (p = 0.0046, Cramér’s V = 0.26), reflecting improved recognition of disparities. Confidence in sun protection increased, with “very confident” responses rising from 28.9% to 44.6%, though this change was not statistically significant (p = 0.15, Cramér’s V = 0.17). Accurate identification of the best risk-reduction strategy remained high (94.8% to 97.8%) with no meaningful difference observed (p = 0.53, Cramér’s V = 0.08).
Conclusion: This brief educational intervention produced meaningful gains in sun safety behaviors and skin cancer knowledge among high school students. Statistically significant improvements were observed in knowledge of sunscreen use, monthly self-exams, and understanding of risk in Hispanic populations. While confidence and prevention strategy knowledge also improved, the changes were not statistically significant, likely due to already high baseline scores. These results support the utility of short, targeted educational sessions within dermatology outreach events to promote early prevention and address disparities in skin cancer awareness.
Presentation Type
Poster
Recommended Citation
Marupudi, Smaran; Hensley, Jared; Quailes, Natasha N.; Fraga, Roberto J.; Moreno, Jacqueline; Martin, Blake; Nwaeri, Michelle; Bangash, Aun; Ybanez, Kaitlyn; Oestreich, Maci D.; Escamilla, Jennifer V.; Ibrahim, Amin; Harris, Chloe C.; Sta. Maria, David; Khan, Shiza; and Villegas, Maria, "Brightening Awareness: A Brief School-Based Intervention Improves Sun Safety and Skin Cancer Knowledge" (2025). Research Colloquium. 95.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/colloquium/2025/posters/95
Included in
Brightening Awareness: A Brief School-Based Intervention Improves Sun Safety and Skin Cancer Knowledge
Background: Skin cancer is a preventable disease that remains underrecognized among adolescents and Hispanic populations. Misconceptions about personal risk and ineffective sun protection habits persist, contributing to delayed diagnosis and poor outcomes, particularly in underserved communities. This project evaluated the impact of a brief, station-based educational intervention delivered during a dermatology-focused workshop for high school students. The goal was to improve sun safety behaviors, knowledge of skin cancer risk in Hispanic populations, and overall confidence in personal sun protection.
Methods: High school participants rotated through a "Skin Cancer and Sun Safety" station as part of a larger dermatology outreach event. At this station, students received a short interactive presentation covering common myths, proper sunscreen use, and guidance on self-skin checks. Participants completed pre- and post-surveys assessing five domains: (1) confidence in protecting their skin from the sun, (2) frequency of sunscreen use, (3) how often they perform skin self-checks, (4) knowledge of skin cancer risk in Hispanics, and (5) understanding of the best prevention strategy. Response pattern shifts were analyzed using chi-square tests to assess statistical significance.
Results: A total of 97 pre-surveys and 94 post-surveys were collected. The proportion of students who correctly identified daily sunscreen use as best practice increased significantly from 19.8% to 47.8% (p = 0.0002, Cramér’s V = 0.32). Knowledge of the recommended frequency for skin self-checks (“once a month”) improved significantly from 54.2% to 77.5% (p = 0.0077, Cramér’s V = 0.25). Understanding that skin cancer is often diagnosed late in Hispanic populations increased from 49.5% to 73.9% (p = 0.0046, Cramér’s V = 0.26), reflecting improved recognition of disparities. Confidence in sun protection increased, with “very confident” responses rising from 28.9% to 44.6%, though this change was not statistically significant (p = 0.15, Cramér’s V = 0.17). Accurate identification of the best risk-reduction strategy remained high (94.8% to 97.8%) with no meaningful difference observed (p = 0.53, Cramér’s V = 0.08).
Conclusion: This brief educational intervention produced meaningful gains in sun safety behaviors and skin cancer knowledge among high school students. Statistically significant improvements were observed in knowledge of sunscreen use, monthly self-exams, and understanding of risk in Hispanic populations. While confidence and prevention strategy knowledge also improved, the changes were not statistically significant, likely due to already high baseline scores. These results support the utility of short, targeted educational sessions within dermatology outreach events to promote early prevention and address disparities in skin cancer awareness.
