THE APPROACH
Parent-based interventions are designed to reach children at home and are aimed toward changing behaviors that are high-risk for skin cancer, such as intentional sunbathing, inadequate sun protection, and the use of tanning lamps and salons, by parental guidance and involvement. The intervention educates parents on the dangers of risky sun behaviors and how to effectively communicate and convey the information with their children. The intervention guides parents on how to encourage their children to refrain from negative, high-risk behaviors like indoor tanning and instead, encourage positive sun-safe behaviors.
The goal of the intervention was to reduce future incidence of skin cancer by:
- Teaching young adolescents decision making skills to avoid behaviors that are high-risk for skin cancer (intentional sunbathing, inadequate appliance of sun screen, and use of tanning beds/ lamps)
- Increase resistance to external influences that promote and encourage the high-risk behaviors
- Reinforce what they learn in school about safe-sun behaviors
The approach of the parent-based intervention was based off of past studies that have linked expectancy to behavioral tendencies using the Theory of Planned Behavior, along with appearance motivation and self-monitoring tendencies (Hillhouse et al., 1997; Turrisi et al., 1998, 1999). These studies found that attitudes toward sun protection, sunbathing, sunscreen usage, appearance, tanning, and UV risk were correlated with normative beliefs and beliefs about UV-related risks that are important variables in predicting risky sun behavioral outcomes. These attitudes and beliefs influence behaviors relating to sunbathing and sun protection, which in turn affect the severity of sun burns that causes an increase in the risk of skin cancer. In order to effectively reduce high-risk sun behaviors, there must be a decrease in sunbathing behaviors and an increase in sun protection behaviors and perceptions about engaging in alternative activities. This theoretical framework was the basis for the intervention materials.
THE PROGRAM
A handbook is provided to parents that begins with an introduction to skin cancer and how it is caused. It gives an overview of risks associated with skin cancers and the consequences associated with exposure to UV and includes various safe sun behaviors and ways to prevent skin cancer. The handbook also provides communication information and motivation for the parents to discuss these issues with their children and emphasizes the importance of preventing skin cancer. The handbook uses cognitive, social, emotional, and decision making approaches to skin cancer prevention. Parents read the information in the handbook and then discuss topics like skin cancer, risky sun behaviors, and positive safe sun behaviors with their children. The handbook is administered to the parents at the beginning of summer and are given two weeks for them to read the program handbook. After the parents have read the handbook they are given 30 days to discuss with their children about the topics and content in the handbook.