None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of personalised mobile telephone short messages (SMS) on improving skin protection and early skin cancer detection behaviours among young to mid-aged adults (18 to 42 years). Who is it for? This study is open to consenting participants aged 18-42 years, understand sufficient English, own a private mobile phone, and who have had no previous melanoma with Fitzpatrick skin types I-III (skin that always, usually or sometimes burns and never or sometimes tans). Trial details Participants in this study will be randomised into one of two groups, where both groups will receive a total of 21 personalised text messages over a period of 12 months relating to either sun safety or skin self examination OR in relation to physical activity. The frequency of these text messages is as follows: One message per week for the first three months of the study, then one message per month for the remaining nine months. There are two primary hypotheses for this trial: 1) Provision of personalised sun protection SMS will reduce the proportion of intervention group participants reporting two or more sunburns during the past twelve months by at least 15% compared to no change in the attention control group (physical activity SMS). 2) Provision of personalised skin cancer early detection SMS will increase the proportion of intervention participants who report a whole-body skin self-examination in the past twelve months by at least 10% compared to no change in the attention control group (physical activity SMS). We will also measure satisfaction with, use of, and recall of the SMS messages. The associated secondary hypothesis is that SMS messages are an acceptable and feasible method of reaching people aged 18-42 years with personalised skin cancer prevention messages.
Interventions
Participants in the intervention group will receive a total of 21 personalised text messages over a period of 12 months relating to either sun safety or skin self examination. The frequency of these text messages is as follows: One message per week for the first three months of the study, then one message per month for the remaining nine months. These messages contain tips on how to protect your skin from the sun, provide encouragement to do so, and act as reminders to do so. The sun safety text
Participants in the intervention group will receive a total of 21 personalised text messages over a period of 12 months relating to either sun safety or skin self examination. The frequency of these text messages is as follows: One message per week for the first three months of the study, then one message per month for the remaining nine months. These messages contain tips on how to protect your skin from the sun, provide encouragement to do so, and act as reminders to do so. The sun safety text messages will be personalised by addressing the participant by name and will sometimes include a reference to an outdoor activity they have reported as doing outdoors on a regular basis. For example, one sun safety message is as follows: "Planning some outside activity this weekend (name)? Encourage your friends to be sun safe like you by wearing a hat & sunscreen. Have fun! Monika". The skin self examination messages will also be personalised by using the participant's name. These messages contain information about how to do a skin self examination, provide encouragement to do so, and act as reminders to do so. Participant gender will also determine what messages participants in this group receive. For example, female participants will receive this message: "Hey (Name), next time you’re doing your make-up take a closer look @ your face, neck & ears for skin spots or skin changes. Monika", whereas male participants will receive this message: "(name), next time you shave look in the mirror to check your scalp for any hidden skin spots. Part your hair using a comb to check each section. Monika". Telephone surveys, duration approximately 15-20 minutes, will take place at three different time points. The first survey will occur at baseline (before the first text message is sent), the second survey will take place three months into the study and the final survey will take place at 12 months, immediately post intervention. These surveys contain questions relating to demographics, lifestyle, behaviours and opinions and are designed to assess whether skin protection and skin self-examination intentions and behaviours change due to the intervention. The surveys will also assess the feasibility and acceptability of SMS as part of health behaviour interventions.
Sponsors
Queensland University of Technology
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 42 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Living in Queensland. Understand sufficient English; cognitive ability for consent; own a private mobile phone; no previous melanoma; Fitzpatrick skin types I-III (skin that always, usually or sometimes burns and never or sometimes tans); 18-42 years
Exclusion criteria
Under the age of 18 years and over the age of 42 years; does not understand sufficient English; does not have the ability to give informed consent; has previously been diagnosed with melanoma; has skin that does not burn; Has been advised not to exercise in 12 months prior to recruitment; does not own a private mobile phone
Outcome results
None listed