Photoaging and theory-based intervention to improve sun protection behaviors in students in Zahedan: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Excessive exposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause skin cancer. Implementing new technologies and computational algorithms can potentially change the outlook for cancer prevention and facilitate early detection of melanoma, thereby reducing mortality. Mobile technol...

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Main Authors: Hassan Okati-Aliabad, Esmat Sadat Hosseini, Mohammad Ali Morowati Sharifabad, Mahdi Mohammadi, Mohamad Ebrahimzadeh Ardakani, Amir Hossein Talebrouhi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023-06-01
Series:Trials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-023-07270-8
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author Hassan Okati-Aliabad
Esmat Sadat Hosseini
Mohammad Ali Morowati Sharifabad
Mahdi Mohammadi
Mohamad Ebrahimzadeh Ardakani
Amir Hossein Talebrouhi
author_facet Hassan Okati-Aliabad
Esmat Sadat Hosseini
Mohammad Ali Morowati Sharifabad
Mahdi Mohammadi
Mohamad Ebrahimzadeh Ardakani
Amir Hossein Talebrouhi
author_sort Hassan Okati-Aliabad
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Excessive exposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause skin cancer. Implementing new technologies and computational algorithms can potentially change the outlook for cancer prevention and facilitate early detection of melanoma, thereby reducing mortality. Mobile technology as a potential provider of health services in delivering health information and conducting interventions, especially in skin fields, where a significant part of diagnosis is based on visual examination, can be important. Evidence showed that constructs of protection motivation theory (PMT) were good predictors of practicing sun protection behaviors in students. This study will investigate whether mobile applications improve safe and healthy behaviors and affect students' reduced UV exposure. Method/design This randomized controlled trial will be conducted on 320 students on 06/04/2022 in Zahedan. We created mobile applications (Sunshine and Skin Health and WhatsApp apps). Sunshine and Skin Health app allows users to see their changed faces in three stages of adolescence, middle age, and old age based on sun protection behavior. The WhatsApp app has 27 health messages based on PMT theory, eight educational files, and a skin cancer clip that will be sent through WhatsApp during a week. Randomization will be performed using a 1:1 (control: intervention) ratio. The primary endpoint is the group difference in sun-protective behaviors and PMT constructs immediately after the intervention. The secondary endpoint is the group difference in sun-protective behaviors and PMT constructs at a 3-month follow-up. The data will be analyzed in SPSS.22, and the significance level will be considered at 0.05. Discussion The present study examines the effectiveness of mobile applications in improving sun-protective behaviors. If this intervention enhances sun protection behaviors, it can prevent students’ skin damage. Trial registration Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT20200924048825N1. Prospectively registered on 8 February 2021.
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spelling doaj.art-e23fe14ab4584661803a2205a5defe662023-07-02T11:26:16ZengBMCTrials1745-62152023-06-0124111110.1186/s13063-023-07270-8Photoaging and theory-based intervention to improve sun protection behaviors in students in Zahedan: study protocol for a randomized controlled trialHassan Okati-Aliabad0Esmat Sadat Hosseini1Mohammad Ali Morowati Sharifabad2Mahdi Mohammadi3Mohamad Ebrahimzadeh Ardakani4Amir Hossein Talebrouhi5Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical SciencesPhD candidate of Health Education and Health Promotion,, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Health Education & Promotion, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical SciencesHealth Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Dermatology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Computer Engineering, Imam Reza International UniversityAbstract Background Excessive exposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause skin cancer. Implementing new technologies and computational algorithms can potentially change the outlook for cancer prevention and facilitate early detection of melanoma, thereby reducing mortality. Mobile technology as a potential provider of health services in delivering health information and conducting interventions, especially in skin fields, where a significant part of diagnosis is based on visual examination, can be important. Evidence showed that constructs of protection motivation theory (PMT) were good predictors of practicing sun protection behaviors in students. This study will investigate whether mobile applications improve safe and healthy behaviors and affect students' reduced UV exposure. Method/design This randomized controlled trial will be conducted on 320 students on 06/04/2022 in Zahedan. We created mobile applications (Sunshine and Skin Health and WhatsApp apps). Sunshine and Skin Health app allows users to see their changed faces in three stages of adolescence, middle age, and old age based on sun protection behavior. The WhatsApp app has 27 health messages based on PMT theory, eight educational files, and a skin cancer clip that will be sent through WhatsApp during a week. Randomization will be performed using a 1:1 (control: intervention) ratio. The primary endpoint is the group difference in sun-protective behaviors and PMT constructs immediately after the intervention. The secondary endpoint is the group difference in sun-protective behaviors and PMT constructs at a 3-month follow-up. The data will be analyzed in SPSS.22, and the significance level will be considered at 0.05. Discussion The present study examines the effectiveness of mobile applications in improving sun-protective behaviors. If this intervention enhances sun protection behaviors, it can prevent students’ skin damage. Trial registration Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT20200924048825N1. Prospectively registered on 8 February 2021.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-023-07270-8Face-aging interventionsProtection motivation theoryUltravioletSunshineMobile app
spellingShingle Hassan Okati-Aliabad
Esmat Sadat Hosseini
Mohammad Ali Morowati Sharifabad
Mahdi Mohammadi
Mohamad Ebrahimzadeh Ardakani
Amir Hossein Talebrouhi
Photoaging and theory-based intervention to improve sun protection behaviors in students in Zahedan: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Trials
Face-aging interventions
Protection motivation theory
Ultraviolet
Sunshine
Mobile app
title Photoaging and theory-based intervention to improve sun protection behaviors in students in Zahedan: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
title_full Photoaging and theory-based intervention to improve sun protection behaviors in students in Zahedan: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
title_fullStr Photoaging and theory-based intervention to improve sun protection behaviors in students in Zahedan: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed Photoaging and theory-based intervention to improve sun protection behaviors in students in Zahedan: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
title_short Photoaging and theory-based intervention to improve sun protection behaviors in students in Zahedan: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
title_sort photoaging and theory based intervention to improve sun protection behaviors in students in zahedan study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
topic Face-aging interventions
Protection motivation theory
Ultraviolet
Sunshine
Mobile app
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-023-07270-8
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