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Effects of web-based intervention on risk reduction behaviors in melanoma survivors

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Journal of Cancer Survivorship Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Melanoma is the most severe form of skin cancer, and survivors of melanoma carry increased risk of additional melanoma diagnosis. Multiple methods exist for primary and secondary prevention of melanoma in survivors. This study tested a web-based family communication intervention to improve these preventive behaviors in melanoma families.

Methods

Families (a survivor, at least one first-degree relative and a parent) were randomized either to receive the intervention package or to serve as comparison families. We assessed melanoma prevention behaviors in each cohort member before and after the intervention. The intervention was a web-based multicomponent intervention focused on increasing family communication and exchange of risk information.

Results

Results indicated that, compared to comparison survivors, intervention survivors improved their skin self-examination and their sun protection behaviors significantly from before to after intervention.

Conclusion

These data support the use of web-based interventions for behavioral changes in survivors and allow for consideration of dissemination of this successful intervention. These data have implications for interventions that can help cancer families deal with issues of risk and illness.

Implications for cancer survivors

These data indicate that survivors can benefit from exposure to a website that helps direct their future health behaviors.

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Conflict of interest

Authors Bowen, Burke, Hay, Meischke, and Harris declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Informed consent

“All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000. Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.”

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioethics and Humanities, University of Washington, 1107 NE 45th Street # 305, Box 357120, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA

    Deborah J. Bowen & Wylie Burke

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Avenue, Seventh Floor, New York, NY, 10022, USA

    Jennifer L. Hay

  3. Department of Health Services, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

    Hendrika Meischke

  4. Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Division of Research, 2000 Broadway, Oakland, CA, 96102, USA

    Julie N Harris

Authors
  1. Deborah J. Bowen
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  2. Wylie Burke
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  4. Hendrika Meischke
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  5. Julie N Harris
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Deborah J. Bowen.

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Bowen, D.J., Burke, W., Hay, J.L. et al. Effects of web-based intervention on risk reduction behaviors in melanoma survivors. J Cancer Surviv 9, 279–286 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-014-0412-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-014-0412-0

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