Skin Cancer
Conditions
Brief summary
This project will pilot a Just In Time Adaptive Intervention (JITAI) approach to providing feedback on child UVR exposure to children and their parents, with the ultimate goal of improving child use of sun protection strategies (e.g., use of sunscreen, protective clothing) and decreasing UVR exposure and sunburn occurrence. This study will utilize a SmartPhone app. If participants do not have a smartphone, they will be provided with one to use the app.
Detailed description
Melanoma is the 6th most common form of cancer in the United States and its incidence has been increasing for the past three decades. While individuals diagnosed with melanoma have a generally optimistic prognosis (overall 5-year survival rates of 91%), once melanoma has metastasized to distant organs, the survival rate drops to only 17%. As a result, prevention and early detection of melanoma when it is more easily treated are of prime importance. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure is the primary modifiable risk factor for melanoma. Adoption of sun protective behaviors, such as sunscreen use, are essential for decreasing acute (sunburn) and long-term (DNA damage) effects of UVR exposure. Minimizing excess UVR exposure is especially important during childhood since childhood sunburns are a risk factor for melanoma. Existing interventions for skin cancer prevention in childhood have not been able to provide children and families with real-time feedback and associated prompts related to the child's UVR exposure. Previous research has shown that families struggle with knowing how much UVR exposure their children obtain throughout the course of the day. JITAIs offer a unique opportunity to provide children and their parents with real-time feedback on the child's UVR exposure, as well as reminders for the child to use recommended sun protection strategies. Previous JITAIs have been observed to be effective at reducing sedentary activities, preventing relapse related to alcoholism, and helping with smoking cessation. However, JITAIs have been used more seldom among pediatric populations and have not yet been used to facilitate melanoma preventive strategies among children. The overall goal of the proposed project is to pilot a JITAI approach to providing feedback on child UVR exposure to children and their parents, with the ultimate goal of improving child use of sun protection strategies (e.g., use of sunscreen, protective clothing) and decreasing UVR exposure and sunburn occurrence. This study will utilize a SmartPhone app. Participants who provide informed consent and/or assent to participate in the study will be asked to complete activities on the app for 21 days. If children do not have a smartphone, they will be provided with one to use the app.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALEUREKA Intervention
Participants will be asked to complete brief questionnaires about the child's sun protection up to six times daily throughout the study. During Week 2, participants will receive feedback and advice messages immediately after completing the questionnaires. During that week, participants will also be asked to collaboratively complete an action planning exercise (delivered to the child's phone) to plan sun protection for a selected outdoor activity that is likely to take place the next day.
Sponsors
University of Utah
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
8 Years to 17 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Parents: * are at least 18 years old * have at least one child between the ages of 8-17 who is living in the same household * are the primary caregiver for the child participating in the study (defined as the individual who is responsible for daily implementation of health-related tasks for the child) * have and are able to use a smartphone * are willing to download and use a free smartphone app that will share their participating child's ultraviolet radiation exposure data with the research team. Children: * are 8 to 17 years old * with a primary caretaker in Utah * have no previous diagnosis of skin cancer * have had a sunburn in the past year * have used sunscreen and one other sun protection behavior never/rarely/sometimes in the past month (protective clothing items, shade when outdoors) * are willing to wear a sensor (on their wrist or attached to their clothing) that collects data on ultraviolet radiation (UV) exposure
Exclusion criteria
Parents and Children: * Do not speak, read/write English * Have a pacemaker
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Self-reported child sun protection | From baseline to Post-Intervention, up to 21 days | This outcome measure will report the frequency of self-report child sun protection using items that separately assess specific sun protection behaviors (e.g., sunscreen use). |
| Parent-reported child sun protection | From baseline to Post-Intervention, up to 21 days | This outcome measure will report the frequency of parent-report child sun protection using items that separately assess specific sun protection behaviors (e.g., sunscreen use). |
Countries
United States
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORTammy Stump, PhD
Huntsman Cancer Institute/ University of Utah
Outcome results
None listed