Testing a belief-based intervention encouraging sun-safety among adolescents in a high risk area.
OBJECTIVE
To provide a preliminary test of a theory of planned behavior (TPB) belief-based intervention to increase adolescents' sun-protective behaviors in a high risk area, Queensland, Australia.


METHODS
In the period of October-November, 2007 and May-June, 2008, 80 adolescents (14.53 ± 0.69 years) were recruited from two secondary schools (one government and one private) in Queensland after obtaining student, parental, and school informed consent. Adolescents were allocated to either a control or intervention condition based on the class they attended. The intervention comprised three, one hour in-school sessions facilitated by Cancer Council Queensland employees with sessions covering the belief basis of the TPB (i.e., behavioral, normative, and control [barrier and motivator] sun-safe beliefs). Participants completed questionnaires assessing sun-safety beliefs, intentions, and behavior pre- and post-intervention. Repeated Measures Multivariate Analysis of Variance was used to test the effect of the intervention across time on these constructs.


RESULTS
Students completing the intervention reported stronger sun-safe normative and motivator beliefs and intentions and the performance of more sun-safe behaviors across time than those in the control condition.


CONCLUSIONS
Strengthening beliefs about the approval of others and motivators for sun protection may encourage sun-safe cognitions and actions among adolescents.
White
Katherine M
KM
School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia. km.white@qut.edu.au
Hyde
Melissa K
MK
O'Connor
Erin L
EL
Naumann
Lisa
L
Hawkes
Anna L
AL
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013471:Sunburn / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D013473:Sunscreening Agents