title: A randomised controlled trial of an online theory-based intervention to improve adult Australians' sun-protective behaviours.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of a single-session online theory of planned behaviour (TPB)-based intervention to improve sun-protective attitudes and behaviour among Australian adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Australian adults (N=534; 38.7% males; Mage=39.3 years) from major cities (80.9%), regional (17.6%) and remote areas (1.5%) were recruited and randomly allocated to an intervention (N=265) and information only group (N=267). The online intervention focused on fostering positive attitudes, perceptions of normative support, and control perceptions for sun protection. Participants completed questionnaires assessing standard TPB measures (attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control, intention, behaviour) and extended TPB constructs of group norm (friends, family), personal norm, and image norm, pre-intervention (Time 1) and one week (Time 2) and one month post-intervention (Time 3). Repeated Measures Multivariate Analysis of Variance tested intervention effects across time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intervention participants reported more positive attitudes towards sun protection and used sun-protective measures more often in the subsequent month than participants receiving information only. The intervention effects on control perceptions and norms were non-significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A theory-based online intervention fostering more favourable attitudes towards sun safety can increase sun protection attitudes and self-reported behaviour among Australian adults in the short term.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia. Electronic address: km.white@qut.edu.au.
authors.forename: Katherine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia.
authors.forename: Louise C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Starfelt
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia.
authors.forename: Ross McD
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia; School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.
authors.forename: Anna L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hawkes
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cleary
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia.
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leske
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia.
authors.forename: Kylie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wihardjo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011582:Psychological Theory; D057566:Self Report; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013473:Sunscreening Agents
keywords: Attitudes; Intervention; Online; Sun safety; Theory of planned behaviour