A comparison of the efficacy of an appearance-focused skin cancer intervention within indoor tanner subgroups identified by latent profile analysis.
The reduction of intentional exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is an important area of skin cancer prevention. Hillhouse et al. (Cancer 113:3257-3266, 2008) have developed an appearance-focused intervention with evidence of efficacy in lowering indoor tanning UV exposure in young women. In the current study, a subgroup approach was used to determine moderators of intervention efficacy. Undergraduate females in two regions of the United States (n = 362) were randomized into an intervention or control condition. Latent profile analysis was used to identify subgroups of indoor tanners based on patterns of indoor tanning motives. Intervention efficacy was examined within each subgroup. We found evidence for 4 subgroups of tanners: knowledgeable-appearance tanners, low-knowledge tanners, low-knowledge, relaxation tanners, and knowledgeable, low-appearance and low-relaxation tanners. The intervention significantly reduced indoor tanning for the low-knowledge subgroup (34% of the sample). The utility of the subgroup approach in developing targeted behavioral skin cancer interventions is discussed.
Stapleton
Jerod
J
Department of Biobehavioral Health and the Prevention Research Center, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA. jerod@psu.edu
Turrisi
Rob
R
Hillhouse
Joel
J
Robinson
June K
JK
Abar
Beau
B
D000293:Adolescent; D001504:Beauty; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055108:Sunbathing / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult