This randomized clinical trial studies how well social-media intervention works in reducing tanning in high-risk indoor and outdoor tanners. Social-media intervention delivered via Facebook may help to promote healthy behaviors, positive body image, and to understand young women's perception of a social media campaign.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To conduct a randomized control trial to examine the efficacy of the intervention versus (vs.) a Facebook-delivered control group on reducing tanning behavior among high-risk indoor and outdoor tanners. OUTLINE: Participants are randomized to 1 of 2 groups. GROUP I: Participants periodically read the content on the study-specific secret Facebook group related to living a healthy lifestyle including avoiding tanning and excessive ultraviolet exposure, managing stress, healthy eating, promoting physically active lifestyles, and promoting a healthy body image, and participate in the group by providing reactions, commenting on the posts, or by sharing study relevant information within the group for 8 weeks. GROUP II: Participants participate in secret Facebook groups that utilize content from the intervention content library related to other health topics of interest (e.g., physical activity, healthy eating, alcohol misuse prevention, stress reduction, sleep) for 8 weeks. After completion of study, patients are followed up at 3, 8, and 18 months post baseline assessment.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
407
Participate in Facebook group focusing on avoiding tanning and promoting healthy body image
Participate in Facebook group focusing on other health topics
Ancillary studies
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky, United States
Total Tanning Sessions
Multilevel models (e.g., random coefficient) will be used to test the primary study hypothesis that participants who received the intervention will report less combined indoor and outdoor tanning behavior at a 8-month follow-up compared to those who received the control. If necessary, sensitivity analyses may control for individual-level covariates. For reporting purposes, total number of tanning session were summed. Items are measured on open-ended scales with minimum value of 0. Higher numbers report higher rates of tanning, a worse outcome considering it is a risk factor for skin cancer development.
Time frame: At 8 months
Indoor and Outdoor Tanning Behavior Assessed Using Surveys
Multilevel models (e.g., random coefficient) will be used. If necessary, sensitivity analyses may control for individual-level covariates. For reporting purposes, total number of tanning session were summed. Items are measured on open-ended scales with minimum value of 0. Higher numbers report higher rates of tanning, a worse outcome considering it is a risk factor for skin cancer development.
Time frame: At 18 months
Skin Burns From Indoor and Outdoor Tanning Assessed Using Surveys
Multilevel models (e.g., random coefficient) will be used. If necessary, sensitivity analyses may control for individual-level covariates. Due to programming error in the study surveys, sunburn was not collected at 8 months as intended. Instead, data presented are from the 18-month, long-term follow-up.
Time frame: At 18 months
Tanning Intentions Assessed Using Surveys
Multilevel models (e.g., random coefficient) will be used. If necessary, sensitivity analyses may control for individual-level covariates. Intentions for both indoor and outdoor tanning were summed to create a single intentions scale. Indoor tanning intentions were assessed with the question "How likely are you to indoor tan (e.g., used a tanning bed, sun lamp, or tanning booth) in the next 12 months?" and outdoor intentions with the question "How likely are you to sunbathe or spend time lying in the sun in the next 12 months?" Both questions included response options on a 6-point scale ranging from extremely unlikely (coded as "1") to extremely likely (coded as "6"). The range of possible responses was 2 to 12 with higher scores indicating higher intentions (a worse outcome).
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Time frame: At 8 months