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Improving short-term sun safety practices among adolescent survivors of childhood cancer: a randomized controlled efficacy trial

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Abstract

Introduction

Skin cancer is one of the most common secondary neoplasms among childhood cancer survivors. However, little evidence exists for effective interventions to promote sun safety behaviors within this population.

Methods

This small-scale randomized controlled trial examined the efficacy of the Survivor Health and Resilience Education (SHARE) Program intervention, a multiple health behavior change intervention designed to increase sun safety practices among adolescent survivors of childhood cancer. Adolescent survivors of childhood cancer (11–21 years) were randomly allocated to a group-based behavioral intervention (n = 38) or wait-list control (n = 37). Self-reported sun safety behaviors were assessed using a valid, 8-item scale at baseline and 1-month post-intervention.

Results

Controlling for baseline sun safety, gender, and seasonal influences, intervention participants reported significantly more sun safety practices (e.g., using sunscreen, reapplying sunscreen regularly) at 1-month post-intervention than control participants (B = 2.64, 95% CI = 1.02, 4.27, p = 0.002).

Conclusions

The results suggest that SHARE was efficacious in producing improvements in short-term self-reported sun safety practices among adolescent survivors of childhood cancer. Future research is needed to build upon this work by incorporating objective measures of sun safety behaviors and examining intervention durability.

Implications for cancer survivors

Behavioral interventions addressing lifestyle factors, including sun safety behaviors, among adolescent survivors of childhood cancer should be integrated into long-term care to reduce the risk for secondary malignancies and diseases.

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Grant Sponsor

This research was supported by grants from the American Cancer Society, Lance Armstrong Foundation, and the National Cancer Institute (CA091831) to Kenneth P. Tercyak, PhD.

Conflict of Interest Statement

None to declare.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Georgetown University Medical Center, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Washington, DC, USA

    Darren Mays, Aziza T. Shad & Kenneth P. Tercyak

  2. The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA

    Jessica Donze Black

  3. Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Revonda B. Mosher

  4. Department of Oncology, Division of Health Outcomes & Health Behaviors, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3300 Whitehaven Street, NW, Suite 4100, Washington, DC, 20007, USA

    Darren Mays

Authors
  1. Darren Mays
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  2. Jessica Donze Black
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  3. Revonda B. Mosher
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  4. Aziza T. Shad
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  5. Kenneth P. Tercyak
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Darren Mays.

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Mays, D., Black, J.D., Mosher, R.B. et al. Improving short-term sun safety practices among adolescent survivors of childhood cancer: a randomized controlled efficacy trial. J Cancer Surviv 5, 247–254 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-011-0177-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-011-0177-7

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