Modifying Young Adult Skin Cancer Risk and Protective Behaviors
Condition: Melanoma and Other Malignant Neoplasms of Skin
MeSH terms: Neoplasms; Skin Neoplasms
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Skin cancer is the most common cancer and can be deadly, debilitating, damaging, and
      disfiguring, yet is highly preventable. In 2014, the US Surgeon General made a call to action
      about the "major public health problem" of skin cancer, noting potential contributions of
      behavioral science and education, and a need for investments in such efforts. Almost five
      million Americans are treated for skin cancer annually, and incidence is rising. Risk factors
      for melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers include personal or family history of skin cancer,
      certain physical characteristics (e.g., fair skin, numerous moles), as well as excessive
      ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure. Our work shows that skin cancer risk behaviors,
      including sunburns, indoor tanning, and lack of protection peak at age 25. Thus, young
      adulthood is an important window for skin cancer risk reduction interventions. However, young
      adults tend to be resistant to public health recommendations because, as a group, they
      perceive themselves as having more immediate priorities than disease prevention, that the
      consequences of their current health behaviors are in the distant future, and they also tend
      to be experimenters and risk-takers highly influenced by peers.

      The principal investigator developed a web-based intervention (UV4.me) that was found to
      significantly decrease UV exposure and increase skin protection behaviors among young adults
      in a randomized controlled trial of nearly 1000 participants.

      The objective of this project is to investigate the reach, effectiveness, implementation,
      maintenance, and cost of an enhanced version of that web intervention (UV4.me2) in a large
      national randomized controlled trial. The ultimate goal is to improve the skin cancer
      protection behaviors (and potentially decrease skin cancer incidence) among a national sample
      of young adults at moderate to high risk of developing skin cancer.

      Primary Aim 1. To enhance and determine intervention reach (i.e., enrollment,
      representativeness).

      Primary Aim 2. To determine the effectiveness of the enhanced intervention.

      Secondary Aim 1. To determine maintenance of the UV4.m4 and UV4.me2 interventions through
      evaluation at 6 and 12-month follow-up.

      Secondary Aim 2. To determine intervention implementation by young adults.

      Secondary Aim 3. To determine the costs of the UV4.me and UV4.me2 interventions.
    


Intervention name(s): UV4.me2; UV4.me; E-Pamphlet
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): UV4.me2 is an enhanced version of the original UV4.me web intervention and features the many of the same educational material and interactive components. New features/strategies for reach, effectiveness, and implementation include:
A mobile version of the site
Incentives in the form of clickable coupons and links to free samples for sun protection products (e.g., sunscreen)
Behavioral tracking and feedback, where users can set goals, track their progress, and receive tailored feedback; Original version of the UV4.me website, which offers education and tailored responses to interactive quizzes about current sun protective behaviors and barriers to engaging in sun protective behaviors.; A free non-interactive e-pamphlet ("Skin Cancer Prevention and Early Detection" from the American Cancer Society). Includes information on skin cancer risk and prevention.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Prevention