Strategies to Promote Skin Health

San Diego State University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Skin Cancer Melanoma; Squamous Cell Carcinoma; Skin Cancer; Basal Cell Carcinoma

Treatments: Behavioral: Mindfulness Intervention; Behavioral: Facial Morphing Intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03237013

2253101

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of the intended proposed research is to investigate and determine best strategies for preventing skin cancer for emerging adults. To answer this question, the investigators intended to pilot a randomized control trial with three arms: 1) Facial Morphing, 2) Mindfulness, and 3) Treatment as usual. The population from which the sample was drawn from was undergraduate psychology students from a large public university in Southern California, who report recent indoor/outdoor tanning, and intentions for future tanning.

Full description

Indoor and outdoor tanning are two of the most common risk factors for developing skin cancer. Predictors of indoor and outdoor tanning including negative body image and negative affect. Thus, to subsequently prevent skin cancer, interventions should focus on appearance concerns and negative affect. To date, limited brief efficacious skin cancer preventions exist. One potential program (APRIL AGE) a facial morphing software program, has recently been evaluated as a potential prevention program of skin cancer. However, limited data exists on the long term benefits of this program. Additionally, brief mindfulness programs have been found to be efficacious in preventing other health risk behaviors (e.g., smoking, negative affect, eating behaviors). To the investigators' knowledge, these brief mindfulness interventions have yet to be applied in skin cancer prevention. Thus, the investigators sought to compare the relative efficacy of the facial morphing intervention and the mindfulness intervention vs. control condition (treatment as usual). It was hypothesized that both facial morphing and mindfulness would lead to reductions in tanning behavior compared to the TAU condition. The investigators also tested contrasts between the facial morphing and mindfulness conditions, however, no directional hypotheses could be generated, due to the dearth of prior data on these interventions in skin cancer prevention.

Enrollment: 219 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 1. aged 18 years old or older
• 2. enrolled as a student at the University
• 3. engaged in either indoor or outdoor tanning in the last 30 days
• 4. intended to tan (indoor or outdoor) in the last 30 days
• 5. English speaking

Exclusion criteria

• Failure to meet any of the above mentioned inclusion criteria

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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219 participants in 3 patient groups, including a placebo group

Control (Treatment as Usual only)

No Intervention group

Description:

Following baseline assessment, all participants were given health literature on tanning behavior from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These materials included informational pamphlets addressing common myths regarding tanning behaviors, including "Tanned skin is not healthy skin", and "A base tan is not a safe tan. These misconceptions were accompanied by "burning truth", scientific data debunking these myths. Additionally, all participants received a packet on sun protective practices for oneself and family, which include skin cancer statistics and information on UV rays.

Treatment as Usual + Facial Morphing

Experimental group

Description:

In addition to the health literature, participants completed the Facial Morphing Intervention. Participants had a digital photograph taken and uploaded to the APRIL® software, accompanied by information about their current age and self-identified race. Participants were presented with two, side-by-side identical 2D images of their face. Participants first viewed an image of their face from their current age, in two-year intervals, to age 72, the maximum age, with the "UV exposure" setting turned on. This process was repeated. Next, participants viewed the projected aging process, toggling the "UV exposure" setting (on and off), every ten year interval. The process was repeated using 3D images to view projected changes to their facial profiles.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Facial Morphing Intervention

Treatment as Usual + Mindfulness

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

In addition to the health literature, participants completed the Mindfulness Intervention. Participants listened to a 10-minute self-guided mindfulness audio exercise. The audio file is a scripted reading of an established, brief mindfulness exercise (Erisman \& Roemer, 2010). During this guided session, participants learned what mindfulness was, when it can be used, and benefits from practice. Listeners were led through steps, focusing on the physical sensations, breathing, and thoughts. After the exercise, participants were provided a handout highlighting key points about mindfulness and how to incorporate informal mindfulness practice into their daily life.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Mindfulness Intervention