Effects of UV Photographs, Photoaging Information, and Use of Sunless Tanning Lotion
on Sun Protection Behaviors
Heike I.M. Mahler, James A. Kulik, Jody Harrell, Alma Correa, Frederick X. Gibbons,
& Meg Gerrard
(2005) Archives of
Dermatology, 141, 373-380.
Objectives: To examine the
efficacy of UV photographs and information about photoaging
(eg, wrinkles and age spots) for increasing the sun
protection intentions and behaviors of young adults and to determine whether
any effects of this appearance-based intervention could be enhanced by
providing a non-UV alternative for achieving a tan (ie,
sunless tanning lotion).
Design: Randomized control trial
with 1-month follow-up.
Setting: Two universities in
Participants: A volunteer sample
of 146 college students, 91.1% of whom completed the “surprise” 1-month
follow-up.
Intervention: A UV facial
photograph and a brief videotape describing the causes and consequences of photoaging. The study tested the effects of the photoagin information/UV photographic intervention only,
the intervention plus use of sunless tanning lotion, and a control condition.
Main Outcome Measures:
Participants sun protection intentions as assessed immediately after the
intervention and sun protection behaviors during the month after the
intervention as assessed during a surprise telephone follow-up.
Results: The intervention
resulted in significantly stronger sun protection intentions (P<.001) and
greater sun protection behaviors (P<.05) relative to controls. Furthermore,
the group that also used sunless tanning lotion tended to engage in greater sun
protection behaviors that the group that received the intervention alone
(p<.08).
Conclusion: The UV photographic
intervention holds promise as a cost-effective approach to motivate
practices that may ultimately result in health benefits (ie,
reduced skin cancer rates).