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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03441321

Social-Media Intervention in Reducing Tanning in High-Risk Tanners

This randomized clinical trial studies how well social-media intervention works in reducing tanning in high-risk indoor and outdoor tanners. Social-media intervention delivered via Facebook may help to promote healthy behaviors, positive body image, and to understand young women's perception of a social media campaign.

Completed

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Key information

Conditions

Health Status Unknown

Age range

18 year–25 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky, 40536, United States

About this study

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To conduct a randomized control trial to examine the efficacy of the intervention versus (vs.) a Facebook-delivered control group on reducing tanning behavior among high-risk indoor and outdoor tanners.

OUTLINE: Participants are randomized to 1 of 2 groups.

GROUP I: Participants periodically read the content on the study-specific secret Facebook group related to living a healthy lifestyle including avoiding tanning and excessive ultraviolet exposure, managing stress, healthy eating, promoting physically active lifestyles, and promoting a healthy body image, and participate in the group by providing reactions, commenting on the posts, or by sharing study relevant information within the group for 8 weeks.

GROUP II: Participants participate in secret Facebook groups that utilize content from the intervention content library related to other health topics of interest (e.g., physical activity, healthy eating, alcohol misuse prevention, stress reduction, sleep) for 8 weeks.

After completion of study, patients are followed up at 3, 8, and 18 months post baseline assessment.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • High-risk indoor or outdoor tanner (defined as using an indoor tanning bed or intentionally tanning outdoors at least 10 times in the previous 12 months)
  • Use of Facebook at least 4 times per week

Treatment and study plan

Lifestyle and Values Intervention

Other

Participate in Facebook group focusing on avoiding tanning and promoting healthy body image

lifestyle intervention

Other

Participate in Facebook group focusing on other health topics

Survey Administration

Other

Ancillary studies

Primary outcomes

  1. Total Tanning Sessions

    Time frame: At 8 months

    Multilevel models (e.g., random coefficient) will be used to test the primary study hypothesis that participants who received the intervention will report less combined indoor and outdoor tanning behavior at a 8-month follow-up compared to those who received the control. If necessary, sensitivity analyses may control for individual-level covariates. For reporting purposes, total number of tanning session were summed. Items are measured on open-ended scales with minimum value of 0. Higher numbers report higher rates of tanning, a worse outcome considering it is a risk factor for skin cancer development.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Indoor and Outdoor Tanning Behavior Assessed Using Surveys

    Time frame: At 18 months

    Multilevel models (e.g., random coefficient) will be used. If necessary, sensitivity analyses may control for individual-level covariates. For reporting purposes, total number of tanning session were summed. Items are measured on open-ended scales with minimum value of 0. Higher numbers report higher rates of tanning, a worse outcome considering it is a risk factor for skin cancer development.

  2. Skin Burns From Indoor and Outdoor Tanning Assessed Using Surveys

    Time frame: At 18 months

    Multilevel models (e.g., random coefficient) will be used. If necessary, sensitivity analyses may control for individual-level covariates. Due to programming error in the study surveys, sunburn was not collected at 8 months as intended. Instead, data presented are from the 18-month, long-term follow-up.

  3. Tanning Intentions Assessed Using Surveys

    Time frame: At 8 months

    Multilevel models (e.g., random coefficient) will be used. If necessary, sensitivity analyses may control for individual-level covariates. Intentions for both indoor and outdoor tanning were summed to create a single intentions scale. Indoor tanning intentions were assessed with the question "How likely are you to indoor tan (e.g., used a tanning bed, sun lamp, or tanning booth) in the next 12 months?" and outdoor intentions with the question "How likely are you to sunbathe or spend time lying in the sun in the next 12 months?" Both questions included response options on a 6-point scale ranging from extremely unlikely (coded as "1") to extremely likely (coded as "6"). The range of possible responses was 2 to 12 with higher scores indicating higher intentions (a worse outcome).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Jerod L Stapleton, PhD

Other

Collaborators

  • National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Registry information

Official study title

Randomized Trial of a Social Media-Delivered Intervention

Important dates

Study start
2019
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Feb 22, 2018
Registry last updated
Feb 27, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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