title: The sunless study: a beach randomized trial of a skin cancer prevention intervention promoting sunless tanning.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the impact of a skin cancer prevention intervention that promoted sunless tanning as a substitute for sunbathing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Public beaches in Massachusetts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women (N = 250) were recruited to participate in the study during their visit to a public beach. Intervention The intervention included motivational messages to use sunless tanning as an alternative to UV tanning, instructions for proper use of sunless tanning products, attractive images of women with sunless tans, a free trial of a sunless tanning product, skin cancer education, and UV imaging. The control participants completed surveys.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome was sunbathing 2 months and 1 year after the intervention. Secondary outcomes included sunburns, sun protection use, and sunless tanning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 2 months, intervention participants reduced their sunbathing significantly more than did controls and reported significantly fewer sunburns and greater use of protective clothing. At 1 year, intervention participants reported significant decreases in sunbathing and increases in sunless tanning relative to control participants but no differences in the other outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This intervention, which promoted sunless tanning as an alternative to UV tanning, had a short-term effect on sunbathing, sunburns, and use of protective clothing and a longer-term effect on sunbathing and sunless tanning.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00403377.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, 01655, USA. Sherry.pagoto@umassmed.edu
authors.forename: Sherry L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Pagoto
authors.forename: Kristin L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oleski
authors.forename: Jamie S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Bodenlos
authors.forename: Yunsheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D001493:Bathing Beaches / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008404:Massachusetts; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D011481:Protective Clothing; D012016:Reference Values; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055108:Sunbathing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013471:Sunburn / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D055107:Suntan; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D013473:Sunscreening Agents