Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Examination of the Short-Term Efficacy of a Parent-Based Intervention to Prevent Skin Cancer

  • Published:
Journal of Behavioral Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The research evaluated an intervention strategy designed to prevent skin cancer in young adolescents. The intervention used parents as change agents to effectively communicate the risks of skin cancer and encourage their children to avoid high-risk sun-related behaviors while increasing positive sun-safe behaviors. Three hundred and forty parents in two regions of the United States were educated about the dangers of risky sun behaviors and how to convey information about skin cancer prevention to their children. Parents were then encouraged to talk with their children about these issues over a 1–month period prior to the onset of summer. Following this time period, children whose parents received and implemented the intervention materials were compared with a control sample of 129 children. These two groups were matched on age, gender, and school on number of sunburns and sunburn severity, attitudes and beliefs, and sunbathing behavior. Children in the treatment condition differed significantly from controls in the predicted directions on all outcome variables. The findings are discussed in terms of reducing skin cancer risk behaviors of children via parent-based intervention approaches.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Ahmedin, J., Thomas, A., Murray, T., and Thun, M. (2002). Cancer statistics, 2002. Cancer J. Clin. 52: 23–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Academy of Dermatology. (1988). Americans Know Risks, Sun Themselves Anyway, American Academy of Dermatology, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Cancer Society. (2002). Cancer Facts and Figures 2002, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arthey, S., and Clarke, V. (1995). Suntanning and sun protection: A review of the psychological literature. Soc. Sci. Med. 40: 265–274.

    Google Scholar 

  • Banks, B. A., Silverman, R. A., Schwartz, R. H., and Tunnessen, W. W. (1992). Attitudes of teenagers toward sun exposure and sunscreen use. Pediatrics 89: 40–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broadstock, M., Borland, R., and Gason, R. (1992). Effects of suntan on judgements of healthiness and attractiveness by adolescents. J. Appl. Soc. Psychol. 22: 157–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buller, D. B., Borland, R., and Burgoon, M. (1998). Impact of behavioral intention on effectiveness of message features: Evidence from the Family Fun Safety project. Hum. Commun.Res. 24: 433–453.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buller, D. B., Buller, M. K., Beach, B., and Ertl, G. (1996). Sunny days, health ways: Evaluation of a skin cancer prevention curriculum for elementary school-aged children. J. Am. Acad.Dermatol. 35: 911–922.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buller, D. B., Callister, M. A., and Reichert, T. (1995). Skin cancer prevention by parents of young children: Health information sources, skin cancer knowledge, and sun-protection practices. Oncol. Nurs. Forum 22: 1559–1566.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buller, M. K., Loescher, L. J., and Buller, D. B. (1994). Sunshine and skin health: A curriculum for skin cancer prevention education. J. Cancer Educ. 9: 155–162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, I. H., and McGuire, C. (1990). Are you dying to get a suntan? The pre-and post-campaign survey results. Health Educ J. 49: 166–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, V. A., Williams, T., and Arthey, S. (1997). Skin type and optimistic bias in relation to the sun protection and suntanning behaviors of young adults. J. Behav. Med. 20: 207–222.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cockburn, J., Hennrikus, D., and Sanson-Fisher, R. (1989). Adolescent use of sun-protection measures. Med. J. Aust. 151: 136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cody, C., and Lee, C. (1990). Behaviors, beliefs, and intentions in skin cancer prevention. J. Behav. Med. 4: 373–388.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dietrich, A. J., Olson, A. L., Sox, C. H., Stevens, M., Tosteson, T. D., Ahles, T., Winchell, C., Grant-Peterson, J., Collison, D. W., and Sanson-Fisher, R. (1998). A community-based randomized trial encouraging sun protection for children. Pidiatrics 102: 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, N. (1992). Carcinogenicity of solar and tanning booth radiation: School and community health interventions. J. Health Educ. 23: 260–266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fears, T., and Scotto, J. (1982). Changes in skin cancer morbidity between 1971–1972 and 1977–1978. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 69: 365–370.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glanz, K., Chang, L., Song, V., Silverio, R., and Muneoka, L. (1998). Skin cancer prevention for children, parents, and caregivers: A field test of Hawaii's Sunsmart program. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 38: 413–417.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glanz, K., Lew, R. A., Song, V., and Murakami-Akatsuka, L. (in press). Effects of skin cancer prevention program in outdoor recreation settings: The Hawaii SunSmart program. Health Psychol.

  • Glands, K. (2000). Skin cancer prevention in outdoor recreation settings: Effects of the Hawaii sunsmart program. Effective Clinical Practice 3(2) 53–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall, H. I., May, D. S., Lew, R. A., Koh, H. K., and Nadel, M. (1997). Sun protection behaviors of the U.S. white population. Prev. Med. 26: 401–407.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall, H. I., Miller, D. R., Rogers, J. D., and Bewerse, B. (1999). Update on the incidence and mortality from melanoma in the United States. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 40: 35–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, D., White, V., Marks, R., Theobald, T., Borland, R., and Roy, C. (1992). Melanoma prevention: Behavioral and nonbehavioral factors in sunburn among an Australian urban population. Prev. Med. 21: 654–669.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hillhouse, J., Adler, C., Drinnon, J., and Turrisi, R. (1997). An application of Azjens's theory. J. Behav. Med. 20: 363–376.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hillhouse, J., Stair, A., and Adler, C. (1996). Predictors of sunbathing and sunscreen use in college undergraduates. J. Behav. Med. 19: 543–561.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, B. R., Altman, D. G., and Newton, J. A. (1993). Melanoma and skin cancer: Evaluation of a health education program for secondary schools. Br. J. Dermatol. 128: 412–417.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, K. M., and Aiken, L. S. (1998). Model of sun protection and sunbathing intentions. Paper presented at the Midwestern Psychological Association Annual Convention, Arizona State University.

  • Jones, J. L., and Leary, M. R. (1994). Effects of appearance-based admonitions against sun exposure on tanning intentions in young adults. Health Psychol. 13: 86–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamin, C. S., O'Neill, P. N., and Ahearn, M. J. (1993). Developing and evaluating a cancer prevention teaching module for secondary education: Project safety (sun awareness for educating today's youth). J. Cancer Educ. 8: 313–318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katz, R. C., and Jernigan, S. (1991). Brief report: An empirically derived educational program for detecting and preventing skin cancer. J. Behav. Med. 14: 421–428.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keesling, B., and Friedman, H. (1987). Psychosocial factors in sunbathing and sunscreen use. Health Psychol. 6: 477–793.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keesling, B., and Friedman, H. (1995). Interventions to prevent skin cancer: Experimental evaluation of informational and fear appeals. Psychol. Health 10: 477–490.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koh, H. K., Bak, S. M., Geller, A. C., Mangione, T. W., Hingson, R. W., Levenson, S. M., Miller, D. R., Lew, R. A., and Howland, J. (1997). Sunbathing habits and sunscreen use among white adults: Results of a national survey. Am. J. Public Health 87: 1214–1217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leary, M. R., and Jones, J. L. (1993). The social psychology of tanning and sunscreen use: Self-presentational motives as a predictor of health risk. J. Appl. Soc. Psychol. 23: 1390–1406.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malouff, J., Schutte, N., and Tokarz, B. (1992). Beliefs, behavior, and sun-related skin damage. Paper presented at the Southeastern Psychological Association Conference, Knoxville, TN.

  • Martin, R. H. (1995). Relationship between risk factors, knowledge, and preventive behavior relevant to skin cancer in general practice patients in South Australia. Br. J. Gen. Pract. 45: 365–367.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mawn, V. B., and Fletcher, A. B. (1993). A survey of attitudes, beliefs, and behavior regarding tanning bed use, sunbathing, and sunscreen. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 29: 959–962.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mermelstein, R., and Riesenberg, L. (1992). Changing knowledge and attitudes about skin cancer risk factors in adolescents. Health Psychol. 11: 371–376.

    Google Scholar 

  • Michielutte, R., Dignan, M. B., Sharp, P. C., Boxley, J., and Wells, H. B. (1996). Skin cancer prevention and early detection practices in a sample of rural women. Prev. Med. 25: 673–683.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, D., Gellar, A., Wyatt, S., Halpern, A., Howell, J., and Cockerell, C. (1996). Melanoma awareness and self-examination practices: Results of a United States survey. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 34: 962–970.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Rourke, T., Corcoran, R. D., and Dalis, G. T. (1993). “Right choices” — Evaluation of an American cancer society cancer prevention curriculum for secondary students. J. Health Educ. 24: 101–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pathak, M. A. (1991). Ultraviolet radiation and the development of non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancer: Clinical and experimental evidence. Skin Pharmacol. 4: 85–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prentice-Dunn, S., Jones, J. L., and Floyd, D. L. (1997). Persuasive appeals and the reduction of skin cancer risk: The roles of appearance concern, perceived benefits of a tan, and efficacy information. J. Appl. Soc. Psychol. 27: 1041–1047.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reding, D. J., Fischer, V., Gunderson, P., and Lappe, K. (1995). Skin cancer prevention: A peer education model. Wis. Med. J. 94: 77–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, J. K., Rademaker, A. W., Sylvester, J., and Cook, B. (1997a). Summer sun exposure: Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of midwest adolescents. Prev. Med. 26: 364–372.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, J. K., Rigel, D. S., and Amonette, R. A. (1997b). Trends in sun exposure knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors: 1986 to 1996. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 37: 179–186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rohwer, J., and Wandberg, R. (1997). Evaluating cancer prevention technology with instructional strategies. J. Health Educ. 28: 324–331.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossi, J. S., Blais, L. M., and Weinstock, M. A. (1994). The Rhode Island sun smart project: Skin cancer prevention reaches the beaches. Am. J. Public Health 84: 672–674.

    Google Scholar 

  • Socha, T. J., and Stamp, G. H. (1995). Parents, Children and Communication, Erlbaum, Mahwah, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stern, R. S., Weinstock, M. C., and Baker, S. G. (1986). Risk reduction for nonmelanoma skin cancer with childhood sunscreen use. Arch. Dermatol. 122: 537–545.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, S. C., Jolley, D., and Marks, R. (1993). Reduction of solar keratoses by regular sunscreen use. N. Engl. J. Med. 329: 1147–1151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thornton, C. M., and Piacquadio, D. J. (1996). Promoting sun awareness: Evaluation of an education children's book. Pediatrics 98: 52–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsao, H., Rogers, G. S., and Sober, A. J. (1998). An estimate of the annual direct cost of treating cutaneous melanoma and melanoma cell lines. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 38: 669–680.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turrisi, R., Hillhouse, J., and Gebert, C. (1998). Examination of cognitive variables relevant to sunbathing. J. Behav. Med. 21: 79–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turrisi, R., and Jaccard, J. (1992). Cognitive and attitudinal factors in the analysis of alternatives to driving. J. Stud. Alcohol 53: 405–414.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turrisi, R., Jaccard, J., Kelly, S. Q., and O'Malley, C. M. (1993). Social psychological factors involved in adolescents' efforts to prevent their friends from driving while intoxicated. J. Youth Adolescence 22: 147–169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turrisi, R., Jaccard, J., Taki, R., Dunnam, H., and Grimes, J. (2001). Examination of the short-term efficacy of a parent-based intervention to reduce college student drinking tendencies. Psychol. Addict. Behav.: Spec. Issue Understanding Binge Drinking 15: 366–372.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turrisi, R., Wiersma, K., and Jaccard, J. (1998). Parent education in college binge drinking. Paper presented at the RSA Annual Scientific Meeting, Hilton Head, South Carolina.

  • Vail-Smith, K., and Felts, M. (1993). Sunbathing: College students' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of Risks. J. Am. Coll. Health 42: 21–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wichstrom, L. (1994). Predictors of Norwegian adolescents sunbathing and use of sunscreen. Health Psychol. 13: 412–420.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winett, R. A., Cleaveland, B. L., Tate, D. F., Lombard, D. N., Lombard, T. N., Russ, C. R., and Galper, D. (1997). The effects of the safe-sun program on patrons' and lifeguards' skin cancer risk-reduction behaviors at swimming pools. J. Health Psychol. 2: 85–95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winkleby, M. A., Gortmann, S. P., and Barrett, B. C. (1990). Social class disparities in risk factors for disease: Eight-year prevalence patterns by level of education. Prev. Med. 19: 142–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zinman, R., Schwartz, S., Gordon, K., Fitzpatrick, E., and Camfield, C. (1995). Predictors of sunscreen use in childhood. Arch. Pediatr. Adolesc. Med. 149: 804–807.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA

    Rob Turrisi & June Robinson

  2. East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee, USA

    Joel Hillhouse

  3. Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Sarah Heavin, Malissa Adams & Jessica Berry

Authors
  1. Rob Turrisi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Joel Hillhouse
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sarah Heavin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. June Robinson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Malissa Adams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jessica Berry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Turrisi, R., Hillhouse, J., Heavin, S. et al. Examination of the Short-Term Efficacy of a Parent-Based Intervention to Prevent Skin Cancer. J Behav Med 27, 393–412 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOBM.0000042412.53765.06

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOBM.0000042412.53765.06

Search

Navigation