Skin Cancer Screening and Education at Beaches (SHADE)

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Status: Completed

Conditions: Skin Cancer

Treatments: Behavioral: biometric feedback; Other: dermatologist skin exam; Behavioral: education about sun protection

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00894855

14598

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study was an evaluation of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Blum Family Resource Center Van's existing skin cancer screening and education program. This program occurred over 2 summers. This study will fill a critical gap in the investigators' knowledge about how best to address the high-risk behaviors that regularly occur during the summertime at beaches. The investigators randomized beaches to receive different combinations of the van program components in order to determine how services should optimally be configured to maximize impact. The investigators hypothesized that providing all three components (1-Skin cancer prevention education; 2-Biometric feedback using a Dermascan Analyzer that illustrates skin damage due to sun exposure and Ultra Violet (UV) Reflectance Photography; and 3-Dermatologist skin exam) will maximize knowledge and behavior change, relative to education alone.

Enrollment: 634 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Beachgoers eligible to participate in the study included:

  • those who were 18 years and older
  • Caucasian
  • able to understand, speak and read English
  • ability to give informed consent
  • had not already enrolled in the study at another participating beach

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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634 participants in 4 patient groups

education only

Active Comparator group

Description:

This comprehensive education program included a health educator visit, on the education van, who gave education about sun safety.

Treatment:

Behavioral: education about sun protection

education plus dermatologist skin exam

Experimental group

Description:

In addition to the education program, participants received free skin exams by board certified dermatologists from Brigham and Women's Hospital. The van was equipped with a private clinical setting conducive to carry out such examinations. Based on the recommendations of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), a visual full body exam was provided to participants. At the end of each skin exam the dermatologist provided a presumptive diagnosis to the participant, and made appropriate recommendations and referrals for follow up with the participants' physician/dermatologist (if and when necessary). All participants undergoing the skin exam were required to complete an "AAD Skin Cancer Screening Registration and Report form".

Treatment:

Other: dermatologist skin exam

educ, biometric fb, and derm skin exam

Experimental group

Description:

Participants received the active components of the other three conditions.

Treatment:

Behavioral: biometric feedback

Other: dermatologist skin exam

education plus biometric feedback

Experimental group

Description:

In addition to the educational program, participants received biometric feedback using a Dermascan Analyzer and Ultra Violet (UV) Reflectance Photography. The Dermascan Analyzer is an educational tool that enhances visibility of skin texture, markings or lesions and is commonly used in health fairs and at schools all over the country. The analyzer highlights the sun damage on the participants skin as dark purple blotches, which the participants are able to see in the mirror placed inside the analyzer. Ultra Violet (UV) Reflectance Photography provides participants with a visual image of their skin damage that can be taken with them.

Treatment:

Behavioral: biometric feedback