Be Prepared for Being Outside: can new technology improve sun protection behaviours in adults?

The aim of this feasibility study is to make engaging sun protection health messages and test them in populations who are regularly outdoors. There will be three user groups that tailored messages will be generated for: 1) athletes, coach or support staff; 2) spectators; or 3) general population. We will construct a Brisbane and Gold coast specific version of the SunVisor app for smartphones, tablets and smartwatches to provide sun-protective messages during April 2018. The SunVisor app will broadcast real-time-weather data, including temperature, humidity, and UV level. Personalised messages (via push notifications) will be delivered through the app with the aim to decrease risk of sunburn and allow people spending time outdoors to adequately prepare and respond to conditions. This is a 1-arm intervention. We will explore if the impact of the intervention differs for sub-groups (user groups, gender, age, skin types). This study similar to an umbrella trial will take participants with the same demographic data (user group, gender, age) and assign them to different intervention messages. Arm 1: To enrol in the project, interested participants must first contact the research team and they will be sent an online participant information and consent form, asked to confirm consent online (tick box) and proceed to complete a 10-15 minute baseline survey. The baseline survey will ask demographic details, skin type, and regular sun protection practices. Once the baseline survey is completed online, they will be directed to download the app (called the SunVisor app). The participants will be asked to use the app for 2 weeks. Participants will be asked to go about their everyday activities whilst using the app, and engage in the app as they see fit. Participants will be asked to allow push notifications, so they receive the daily messages. Participants will receive one message a day for the 2-week intervention period, but can use the app as many times as they like to use its core weather functions. During the install process questions will be used to allocate the user into their specific groups, questions will also be used to determine gender, age and how sensitive their skin is to UV enabling personalized messages to be developed. Software algorithms will work at the back-end of the app to process the weather data into three categories based on the World Health Organisation Guidelines 1) Extreme, Very High, High, 2) Moderate and 3) Low). The app will allow tailored messages (via app push notifications) with the aim to decrease risk of sunburn. The message content via the app notifications will vary between the three user groups, but all main app features will remain the same. An example of message content for the Athlete user group during Extreme weather would be “Training today? Head to the air-conditioned gym - extreme high UV forecasted” and for the low weather category “Great day for a swim session outside while the sun is away”. Email will also be collected at enrollment so we can send an evaluation survey in the week following the study to determine satisfaction with the app and messages, and identify any barriers to use. The evaluation survey will take 10-15 minutes to complete. Participants will also be asked about their sun exposure practices and rates of sunburn during the 2 weeks of app use. Participants who complete all the study procedures may choose to enter a prize draw to win one of 5 x $100 gift vouchers. Participants will be directed to the prize draw entry (optional) after completing the evaluation survey. Metric data will be collected via the app such as number of downloads, uninstalls, retention rate, daily active users, frequency of app sessions and app rating will also be collected and analysed.