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‘I had a bigger cancer risk than I thought…’: The experience of receiving personalized risk information as part of a skin cancer prevention intervention in the college setting
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

‘I had a bigger cancer risk than I thought…’: The experience of receiving personalized risk information as part of a skin cancer prevention intervention in the college setting

Hannah L. Brady, Jada G. Hamilton, Kimberly A. Kaphingst, Jakob D. Jensen, Wendy Kohlmann, Bridget G. Parsons, Helen M. Lillie, Ali P. Wankier, Heather J. Smith, Douglas Grossman, …
Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy, Vol.25(6), pp.2937-2949
10/12/2022
DOI: 10.1111/hex.13601
PMCID: PMC9700178
PMID: 36225123
url
https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13601View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Background Diagnoses of both melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers are becoming increasingly common among young adults. Interventions in this population are a priority because they do not consistently follow skin cancer prevention recommendations. Objectives The goal of the current study was to examine college students' perspectives on and experience with receiving a skin cancer prevention intervention that provided personalized skin cancer risk feedback in the form of an ultraviolet (UV) photograph, the results of genetic testing for common skin cancer risk variants, and/or general skin cancer prevention education. Methods Qualitative interviews were conducted with 38 college students who received a skin cancer prevention intervention. The interview covered students' feelings about their personal skin cancer risk information, the impact of the intervention on their skin cancer risk perceptions, actions or intentions to act with regard to their sun protection practices and feedback for improvement of the intervention content or delivery. Results Participants reported that different intervention components contributed to increased awareness of their sun protection behaviours, shifts in cognitions about and motivation to implement sun protection strategies and reported changes to their skin cancer prevention strategies. Conclusion Our findings indicate that college students are interested in and responsive to these types of multicomponent skin cancer preventive interventions. Further, students demonstrate some motivation and intentionality toward changing their skin cancer risk behaviour in the short term. Patient or Public Contribution Participants involved in this study were members of the public (undergraduate students) who were involved in a skin cancer prevention intervention, then participated in semistructured interviews, which provided the data analysed for this study.
Health Care Sciences & Services Health Policy & Services Life Sciences & Biomedicine Public, Environmental & Occupational Health Science & Technology

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