Sun Protection of Kidney Transplant Recipients

Northwestern University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Disorder Related to Renal Transplantation; Unspecified Complication of Kidney Transplant

Treatments: Behavioral: Internet-based sun protection education

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01646099

STU00058220

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study is being done to evaluate the effectiveness of a Sun Protection Strategies internet-based program for kidney transplant recipients. Since the medication taken to preserve the kidney transplant puts kidney transplant recipients at increased risk of developing a sunburn as well a skin cancer, the program will help people learn how to practice effective sun protection for their condition.

Full description

Cognitive interviews about an internet-based sun protection strategies program will be performed with up to 45 kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) who have participated in past surveys. A second group of 150 KTRs will be asked to evaluate the internet-based module for the effectiveness of information. A third group of 12 KTRs will be asked to evaluate the internet-based module for usability. A fourth group of 160 KTRs will be asked to take part in a randomized controlled trial evaluating the fully developed internet-based sun protection strategies program.

Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) are at risk to develop skin cancer. Adequate sun protection after transplantation can reduce the risk of developing skin cancer. In 2006, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) found that sun protection education delivery and content varied among transplantation centers. Clinicians rarely knew when to initiate education about skin cancer risks and prevention including timing and scope, and rarely demonstrated understanding of the importance of reminders for and repeated education of patients. (National Kidney Foundation 2006) The NKF supported standard, formal, well timed skin cancer prevention information and sending reminders to KTRs at the beginning of summer.

Aims:

1. To explore culturally sensitive use of terms describing ethnic cultural perceptions of sun burning, pigment darkening after sun exposure and description of skin color by the amount of photoprotective pigment in the skin.
2. To pilot test the internet-based sun protection brochure with English speaking KTRs representing 3 ethnic groups: White, Black and Hispanic.
3. To explore understanding of the importance of sun protection and the KTRs' confidence in their being able to practice sun protection.

Enrollment: 335 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 85 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Subjects with a history of kidney transplantation within the last 5 years
• Speaks English
• Can see to read
• Lives in the greater Chicago area and can attend a cognitive interview session
• 18-85 years old

Exclusion criteria

• Unable to speak English
• Cognitive impairment or neurologic disease
• Dementia or insufficient cognitive skills to follow instructions provided at a sixth grade language level
• Has had a skin cancer

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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335 participants in 2 patient groups

Sun Protection Education

Experimental group

Description:

Distribution of the internet-based sun protection educational program.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Internet-based sun protection education

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

Distribution of general skin care information.