Examination of the efficacy of an appearance-focused intervention to reduce UV exposure.
This study designed and implemented an appearance-based skin cancer prevention intervention in college-aged females. One hundred and forty-seven respondents were randomly assigned to treatment or control groups. Treatment respondents received a short workbook describing the appearance damaging effects of indoor tanning. At short-term follow-up (2 weeks later) treatment respondents had significantly more negative attitudes toward indoor tanning, and reported fewer intentions to indoor tan. At 2-month follow-up, treatment respondents reported indoor tanning one-half as much as control respondents in the previous 2 months. This appearance-based intervention was able to produce clinically significant changes in indoor tanning use tendencies that could have a beneficial effect on the future development of skin cancer.
Hillhouse
Joel J
JJ
Department of Psychology, Box 70,649, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee 37614, USA. hillhous@etsu.edu
Turrisi
Rob
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001505:Beauty Culture; D001828:Body Image; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D011897:Random Allocation; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*