Pilot Investigation of Behavioral Alternatives to Indoor Tanning

The goal of this research is to develop and test the feasibility of an intervention that stimulates uptake of healthy alternatives to tanning by providing free access to them for a limited time. Free access gives participants a low-risk opportunity to try something new that is consistent with their motivations. Free access also allows them to experience the reinforcing properties of the alternatives which could prime continued use after the free trial period. The objective of the present study is to determine the feasibility and short-term efficacy of providing free alternatives to indoor tanners in an effort to "nudge" them to switch from indoor tanning to healthy alternatives.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Skin Cancer
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Airbrush; Behavioral: Airbrush Plus; Behavioral: Delayed Airbrush

Detailed Description

Melanoma is the second most common cancer diagnosed in young women and is responsible for nearly 8,000 US deaths per year. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) increases risk for melanoma. The International Agency for Research on Cancer assigned indoor tanning (IT; use of tanning beds or booths), as a class 1 carcinogen joining arsenic, asbestos, and mustard gas. Unfortunately, interventions educating tanners about the risks have not been very effective. Many tanners are more motivated by the immediate consequences of tanning than the delayed consequence of possibly getting cancer. Research shows the primary motivation for indoor tanning is to improve physical appearance, but a secondary motivation is stress reduction. Behavioral economics theory suggests that the rate of a behavior depends on 1) the reinforcing value of that behavior relative to alternatives, 2) the cost of engaging in the behavior relative to alternatives, and 3) the availability of the behavior relative to alternatives. The purpose of the present study is to determine whether exposure to healthy alternatives changes the behavior of indoor tanners. The investigators will randomize tanners to conditions differing in physical appearance and stress reduction alternatives to determine whether they can get their motivational needs met in healthier ways.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 74
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Worcester, Massachusetts, United States, 01655
      • University of Massachusetts Medical School

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 years to 65 years (Child, Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female
• Ages 16-65
• Report minimum of 10 indoor tanning visits in the last year with intentions to continue

Exclusion Criteria:

• Ages <16 or >65
• Pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant during the study period
• Reporting less than 10 indoor tanning visits per year
• No intention to continue indoor tanning
• Using sunless tanning more than once in the last year and ever in the last 3 months
• Physically limited to do yoga or dance classes
• DHA allergy
• Inability to consent
• Prisoners

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Airbrush; Participants will receive the American Academy of Dermatology Sun Smart pamphlet at the baseline session. It has brief tips for reducing skin cancer risk, but does not mention sunless tanning or relaxation activities. Participants will also complete 4 airbrush tan sessions, once every two weeks, over the course of 2 months. Participants will receive access to one of each of the following after the 6-month assessment at no cost: massage, pedicure, yoga class, and dance class. Participants will schedule these activities on their own and the study staff will arrange for payment for the appointment.	Behavioral: Airbrush; The American Academy of Dermatology Sun Smart pamphlet will be given at the baseline session. It has brief tips for reducing skin cancer risk, but does not mention sunless tanning or relaxation activities. Participants in the airbrush condition will receive 4 airbrush tan sessions, once every two weeks, over the course of 2 months.
Experimental: Airbrush Plus; Participants will receive the American Academy of Dermatology Sun Smart pamphlet at the baseline session. It has brief tips for reducing skin cancer risk, but does not mention sunless tanning or relaxation activities. Participants will also complete 4 airbrush tan sessions, once every two weeks, over the course of 2 months. Additionally, they may choose 8 sessions, 1 per week, of the following activities at no cost: massage, pedicure, yoga class, or dance class. These activities are being given as healthy alternatives to the relaxation sensation of indoor tanning.	Behavioral: Airbrush Plus; The American Academy of Dermatology Sun Smart pamphlet will be given at the baseline session. It has brief tips for reducing skin cancer risk, but does not mention sunless tanning or relaxation activities. Participants will complete 4 airbrush tan sessions, once every two weeks, over the course of 2 months. Additionally, they may choose 8 sessions, 1 per week, of the following activities at no cost: massage, pedicure, yoga class, or dance class.
Active Comparator: Delayed Airbrush Plus; Participants will receive the American Academy of Dermatology Sun Smart pamphlet at the baseline session. It has brief tips for reducing skin cancer risk, but does not mention sunless tanning or relaxation activities. Participants will also receive access to one of each of the following after the 6-month assessment at no cost: airbrush tan, massage, pedicure, yoga class, and dance class.	Behavioral: Delayed Airbrush; The American Academy of Dermatology Sun Smart pamphlet will be given at the baseline session. It has brief tips for reducing skin cancer risk, but does not mention sunless tanning or relaxation activities. Participants will receive access to one of each of the following after the 6-month assessment at no cost: airbrush tan, massage, pedicure, yoga class, and dance class

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Satisfaction	A measure of satisfaction will be assessed for each alternative visit on a scale of 1-10 immediately after each activity is completed. Visits occur between baseline and 12 months of participation. Timing of visits depend on which condition is assigned.	up to 12 months
Effort of alternatives	Perceived effort of alternatives will be discussed in a focus group setting.	6-month follow-up
Recruitment rate	Total randomized and total screened out.	baseline
Retention	% sessions complete and total withdrawn from study	12 month follow-up

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
abstinence	the percent of participants who abstained from indoor tanning.	2-month follow-up
abstinence	the percent of participants who abstained from indoor tanning.	3-month follow-up
abstinence	the percent of participants who abstained from indoor tanning.	6-month follow-up
abstinence	the percent of participants who abstained from indoor tanning.	12-month follow-up

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cost of indoor tanning	Total amount spent on tanning since the previous assessment.	2-month follow-up
Cost of indoor tanning	Total amount spent on tanning since the previous assessment.	3-month follow-up
Cost of indoor tanning	Total amount spent on tanning since the previous assessment.	6-month follow-up
Cost of indoor tanning	Total amount spent on tanning since the previous assessment.	12-month follow-up
Stress Level	Perceived Stress Scale	2-month follow-up
Stress Level	Perceived Stress Scale	3-month follow-up
Stress Level	Perceived Stress Scale	6-month follow-up
Stress Level	Perceived Stress Scale	12-month follow-up
Attitudes	Indoor Tanning Attitude Scale and the same scale modified for each of the alternatives	3-month follow-up
Attitudes	Indoor Tanning Attitude Scale and the same scale modified for each of the alternatives	6-month follow-up
Attitudes	Indoor Tanning Attitude Scale and the same scale modified for each of the alternatives	12-month follow-up
Tanning Dependence	modified CAGE	2-month follow-up
Tanning Dependence	modified CAGE	3-month follow-up
Tanning Dependence	modified CAGE	6-month follow-up
Tanning Dependence	modified CAGE	12-month follow-up

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Worcester
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Sherry Pagoto, PhD, University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: April 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 1, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): April 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 9, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 16, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): July 17, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): May 6, 2015
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 5, 2015
• Last Verified: May 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Skin Diseases; Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Skin Neoplasms
• Other Study ID Numbers: 1R21CA161576-01A1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)