Adolescents' use of purpose built shade in secondary schools: Cluster randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: To examine whether students use or avoid newly shaded areas created by shade sails installed at schools. Design: Cluster randomised controlled trial with secondary schools as the unit of randomisation. Setting: 51 secondary schools with limited available shade, in Australia, assessed over two spring and summer terms. Participants: Students outside at lunch times. Intervention: Purpose built shade sails were installed in winter 2005 at full sun study sites to increase available shade for students in the school grounds. Main outcome measure: Mean number of students using the primary study sites during weekly observations at lunch time. Results: Over the study period the mean change ..