title: Can skin cancer prevention and early detection be improved via mobile phone text messaging? A randomised, attention control trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the impact of a theory-based, SMS (text message)-delivered behavioural intervention (Healthy Text) targeting sun protection or skin self-examination behaviours compared to attention control.
  
  
  METHODS
  Overall, 546 participants aged 18-42 years were randomised using a computer-generated number list to the skin self-examination (N=176), sun protection (N=187), or attention control (N=183) text messages group. Each group received 21 text messages about their assigned topic over 12 months (12 weekly messages for 3 months, then monthly messages for the next 9 months). Data were collected via telephone survey at baseline, 3, and 12 months across Queensland from January 2012 to August 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One year after baseline, the sun protection (mean change 0.12; P=0.030) and skin self-examination groups (mean change 0.12; P=0.035) had significantly greater improvement in their sun protection habits (SPH) index compared to the attention control group (reference mean change 0.02). The increase in the proportion of participants who reported any skin self-examination from baseline to 12 months was significantly greater in the skin self-examination intervention group (103/163; 63%; P<0.001) than the sun protection (83/173; 48%) or attention control (65/165; 36%) groups. There was no significant effect of the intervention for participants' self-reported whole-body skin self-examination, sun tanning, or sunburn behaviours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Healthy Text intervention was effective in inducing significant improvements in sun protection and any type of skin self-examination behaviours.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials register (ACTRN12612000577819).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Cancer Australia 1011999.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Centre, Cancer Council Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Philippa H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Youl
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Research Centre, The University of Queensland, School of Medicine, Translational Research Institute, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: H Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Soyer
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Centre, Cancer Council Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Baade
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Social Work, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Alison L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Social Work, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Finch
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Social Work, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: m.janda@qut.edu.au.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D040421:Cell Phone; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011793:Queensland; D016353:Self-Examination; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013471:Sunburn / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013473:Sunscreening Agents; D060145:Text Messaging; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents
keywords: Health promotion; Prevention; Skin cancer; Text messaging