Promoting sunscreen use and skin self-examination to improve early detection and prevent skin cancer: quasi-experimental trial of an adolescent psycho-educational intervention
Abstract Background Skin cancer rates are increasing. Interventions to increase adolescent sunscreen use and skin self-examination (SSE) are required. Methods Quasi-experimental design; 1 control and 4 intervention group schools in Scotland, UK. Participants were 15–16 year old students on the schoo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-5570-y |
| _version_ | 1811286943362711552 |
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| author | Gill Hubbard Richard G. Kyle Richard D. Neal Vincent Marmara Ziyan Wang Stephan U. Dombrowski |
| author_facet | Gill Hubbard Richard G. Kyle Richard D. Neal Vincent Marmara Ziyan Wang Stephan U. Dombrowski |
| author_sort | Gill Hubbard |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Skin cancer rates are increasing. Interventions to increase adolescent sunscreen use and skin self-examination (SSE) are required. Methods Quasi-experimental design; 1 control and 4 intervention group schools in Scotland, UK. Participants were 15–16 year old students on the school register. The intervention was a theoretically-informed (Common-Sense Model and Health Action Process Approach) 50-min presentation, delivered by a skin cancer specialist nurse and young adult skin cancer survivor, to students in a classroom, supplemented by a home-based assignment. Outcome variables were sunscreen use intention, SSE intention/behaviour, planning, illness perceptions and skin cancer communication behaviour, measured 2 weeks pre- and 4 weeks post- intervention using self-completed pen and paper survey. School attendance records were used to record intervention up-take; students self-reported completion of the home-based assignment. Pearson’s chi-square test, analysis of variance, and non-parametric Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test were used to measure outcomes and associations between variables. Focus groups elicited students’ (n = 29) views on the intervention. Qualitative data were analysed thematically. Results Five of 37 invited schools participated. 639 (81%) students in intervention schools received the intervention; 33.8% completed the home-based assignment. 627 (69.6%) of students on the school register in intervention and control schools completed a questionnaire at baseline; data for 455 (72.6%) students were available at baseline and follow-up. Focus groups identified four themes – personal experiences of skin cancer, distaste for sunscreen, relevance of SSE in adolescence, and skin cancer conversations. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) changes were observed for sunscreen use, SSE, planning, and talk about skin cancer in intervention schools but not the control. Significant associations were found between sunscreen use, planning and 2 illness perceptions (identity and consequence) and between SSE, planning and 3 illness perceptions (timeline, causes, control). Conclusions It is feasible to promote sunscreen use and SSE in the context of an adolescent school-based psychoeducation intention. Further research is required to improve study uptake, intervention adherence and effectiveness. Trial registration ISRCTN11141528 |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T03:08:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-960b005522324a6c81cd5f80c53a3114 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T03:08:56Z |
| publishDate | 2018-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-960b005522324a6c81cd5f80c53a31142022-12-22T03:05:08ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582018-05-0118111510.1186/s12889-018-5570-yPromoting sunscreen use and skin self-examination to improve early detection and prevent skin cancer: quasi-experimental trial of an adolescent psycho-educational interventionGill Hubbard0Richard G. Kyle1Richard D. Neal2Vincent Marmara3Ziyan Wang4Stephan U. Dombrowski5School of Health, Social Care and Life Sciences, Centre for Health Sciences, University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI)School of Health and Social Care, Edinburgh Napier UniversityAcademic Unit of Primary Care, Institute of Health Sciences, University of LeedsDepartment of Management, Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy, University of MaltaDivision of Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of StirlingDivision of Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of StirlingAbstract Background Skin cancer rates are increasing. Interventions to increase adolescent sunscreen use and skin self-examination (SSE) are required. Methods Quasi-experimental design; 1 control and 4 intervention group schools in Scotland, UK. Participants were 15–16 year old students on the school register. The intervention was a theoretically-informed (Common-Sense Model and Health Action Process Approach) 50-min presentation, delivered by a skin cancer specialist nurse and young adult skin cancer survivor, to students in a classroom, supplemented by a home-based assignment. Outcome variables were sunscreen use intention, SSE intention/behaviour, planning, illness perceptions and skin cancer communication behaviour, measured 2 weeks pre- and 4 weeks post- intervention using self-completed pen and paper survey. School attendance records were used to record intervention up-take; students self-reported completion of the home-based assignment. Pearson’s chi-square test, analysis of variance, and non-parametric Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test were used to measure outcomes and associations between variables. Focus groups elicited students’ (n = 29) views on the intervention. Qualitative data were analysed thematically. Results Five of 37 invited schools participated. 639 (81%) students in intervention schools received the intervention; 33.8% completed the home-based assignment. 627 (69.6%) of students on the school register in intervention and control schools completed a questionnaire at baseline; data for 455 (72.6%) students were available at baseline and follow-up. Focus groups identified four themes – personal experiences of skin cancer, distaste for sunscreen, relevance of SSE in adolescence, and skin cancer conversations. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) changes were observed for sunscreen use, SSE, planning, and talk about skin cancer in intervention schools but not the control. Significant associations were found between sunscreen use, planning and 2 illness perceptions (identity and consequence) and between SSE, planning and 3 illness perceptions (timeline, causes, control). Conclusions It is feasible to promote sunscreen use and SSE in the context of an adolescent school-based psychoeducation intention. Further research is required to improve study uptake, intervention adherence and effectiveness. Trial registration ISRCTN11141528http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-5570-ySkin cancerSkin self-examinationAdolescence |
| spellingShingle | Gill Hubbard Richard G. Kyle Richard D. Neal Vincent Marmara Ziyan Wang Stephan U. Dombrowski Promoting sunscreen use and skin self-examination to improve early detection and prevent skin cancer: quasi-experimental trial of an adolescent psycho-educational intervention BMC Public Health Skin cancer Skin self-examination Adolescence |
| title | Promoting sunscreen use and skin self-examination to improve early detection and prevent skin cancer: quasi-experimental trial of an adolescent psycho-educational intervention |
| title_full | Promoting sunscreen use and skin self-examination to improve early detection and prevent skin cancer: quasi-experimental trial of an adolescent psycho-educational intervention |
| title_fullStr | Promoting sunscreen use and skin self-examination to improve early detection and prevent skin cancer: quasi-experimental trial of an adolescent psycho-educational intervention |
| title_full_unstemmed | Promoting sunscreen use and skin self-examination to improve early detection and prevent skin cancer: quasi-experimental trial of an adolescent psycho-educational intervention |
| title_short | Promoting sunscreen use and skin self-examination to improve early detection and prevent skin cancer: quasi-experimental trial of an adolescent psycho-educational intervention |
| title_sort | promoting sunscreen use and skin self examination to improve early detection and prevent skin cancer quasi experimental trial of an adolescent psycho educational intervention |
| topic | Skin cancer Skin self-examination Adolescence |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-5570-y |
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