A randomized trial of tailored skin cancer prevention messages for adults: Project SCAPE.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the impact of a mailed, tailored intervention on skin cancer prevention and skin self-examination behaviors of adults at moderate and high risk for skin cancer.


METHODS
Adults at moderate and high risk for skin cancer were recruited in primary health care settings in Honolulu, HI, and Long Island, NY. After completing a baseline survey, participants were randomized to 2 groups. The treatment group received tailored materials, including personalized risk feedback, and the control group received general educational materials. Multivariate analyses compared sun protection and skin self-examination between groups, controlling for location, risk level, gender, and age.


RESULTS
A total of 596 adults completed the trial. The tailored materials had a significant effect on overall sun-protection habits, the use of hats, the use of sunglasses, and the recency of skin self-examination. Some effects were moderated by location and risk level.


CONCLUSIONS
Tailored communications including personalized risk feedback can improve sun-protection behaviors and skin self-examination among adults at increased risk for skin cancer. These convenient, low-cost interventions can be implemented in a variety of settings and should be tested further to assess their long-term effectiveness.
Glanz
Karen
K
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6021, USA. kglanz@upenn.edu
Schoenfeld
Elinor R
ER
Steffen
Alana
A
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D006254:Hawaii; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D016353:Self-Examination; D012737:Sex Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013471:Sunburn / Q000517:prevention & control; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
D013473:Sunscreening Agents