BACKGROUND: Although skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the US, prevention efforts to date have fallen short of expectations. Message tailoring has been effective for promoting many health behaviors, but not well explored for skin cancer prevention. This study evaluated a web-based tailored skin cancer prevention intervention. METHODS: Participants were recruited from undergraduate summer classes at a southeastern university. Participants accessed the project website, were randomly assigned to treatment or comparison groups, and completed an online survey on sun protection beliefs and behaviors. Treatment group participants received web-based tailored messages and images and comparison group participants received web-based generic messages. Thirty days later, online follow-up surveys on sun protection beliefs and behaviors and process evaluation questions, were administered. RESULTS: Significantly more treatment group participants than comparison group reported that they read the information on their web page. Treatment group participants also were significantly less likely to report that they find it very important to be tan and that they feel more attractive when they are tan. CONCLUSION: The results of this pilot study suggest that tailored web pages may be an appropriate strategy for delivering skin cancer prevention messages. That receivers of the tailored message were more likely to read the message demonstrates the strength of web-based tailoring to increase exposure to health communication messages. The group differences related to tanning and attractiveness beliefs demonstrate that web-based tailored messages can have significant effects on sun protection beliefs as well. See www.coe.uga.edu/phit/sun/
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, the participants will be able to: (1) identify the key factors to consider when developing web-based tailored intervention, and (2) develop appropriate process and outcome evaluation strategies for web-based tailored interventions.
Keywords: Cancer Prevention, Internet
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.