title: User preferences for text message-delivered skin cancer prevention and early detection.
abstract: Evidence is needed for the acceptability and user preferences of receiving skin cancer-related text messages. We prepared 27 questions to evaluate attitudes, satisfaction with program characteristics such as timing and spacing, and overall satisfaction with the Healthy Text program in young adults. Within this randomised controlled trial (age 18-42 years), 546 participants were assigned to one of three Healthy Text message groups; sun protection, skin self-examination, or attention-control. Over a 12-month period, 21 behaviour-specific text messages were sent to each group. Participants' preferences were compared between the two interventions and control group at the 12-month follow-up telephone interview. In all three groups, participants reported the messages were easy to understand (98%), provided good suggestions or ideas (88%), and were encouraging (86%) and informative (85%) with little difference between the groups. The timing of the texts was received positively (92%); however, some suggestions for frequency or time of day the messages were received from 8% of participants. Participants in the two intervention groups found their messages more informative, and triggering behaviour change compared to control. Text messages about skin cancer prevention and early detection are novel and acceptable to induce behaviour change in young adults.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Social Work, Institute for Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Finch
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Centre, Cancer Council Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Philippa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Youl
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Social Work, Institute for Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Alison L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Marshall
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
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baade
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Social Work, Institute for Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia m.janda@qut.edu.au.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D060145:Text Messaging; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Skin cancer; attitudes; health promotion; prevention; text messaging