Sun protection awareness through reading in kids (SPARK): A pilot study

Summary: Abstract Body: In this pilot study, we created and evaluated a scientifically accurate and inclusive children’s book about sun protection, “Sage’s Sun-Safe Adventure”, and assessed its impact on caregiver knowledge and satisfaction. Our study included 20 caregivers of children aged 4-10 years, who completed pre- and post-intervention surveys. Surveys revealed a significant improvement in sun safety knowledge, with quiz scores increasing from a mean of 4.00 to 4.55 out of 6 (p=0.0312). We also identified common barriers to sun protection, such as, “My child doesn’t like wearing sunscreen” (21%) and “Staying in the shade is hard” (26%), highlighting logistical and behavioral challenges facing caregivers. Additionally, we found that while racial differences in the use of sun protection items were not statistically significant, non-white participants were less likely to regularly use sunscreen (14% vs. 38%), suggesting that cultural and socioeconomic factors may influence sun safety practices. Financial constraints, such as the cost of sunscreen, were more commonly reported among non-white participants (29% vs. 0%), highlighting the need for targeted, culturally sensitive, and affordable educational resources and sun protective materials to improve sun safety across diverse populations. These findings suggest that educational children’s literature is a promising tool for improving sun safety practices. The book’s inclusive and engaging format may be particularly beneficial for children from diverse backgrounds. Future research should explore the long-term effectiveness of such interventions, adapt materials for broader cultural contexts, and conduct larger-scale studies to ensure inclusivity and efficacy across demographic groups. Furthermore, evaluating the potential of multilingual versions and other educational formats may help expand the reach and impact of sun safety messages. Grace Rabinowitz¹, Braxton Schuldt¹, Raphaella Lambert¹, Hannah Verma¹, Nicholas Gulati¹, Justine Fenner¹ 1. Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States. Clinical Research: Epidemiology and Observational Research