Enhancing planning strategies for sunscreen use at different stages of change

Abstract

To promote sun safety by implementing different plans for sunscreen use, different psychological interventions are compared. Self-regulatory strategies such as action planning and coping planning are seen as proximal predictors of actual behavior. The study compares a pure planning intervention with a broader resource communication and examines differential effects at different stages of change. A sun safety online study was designed with two intervention groups (resource communication versus planning) and one control group at two assessment points, 2 weeks apart. Participants (N = 292) were grouped post hoc according to their stage of change, resulting in 51 pre-intenders (no intention to use sunscreen), 102 intenders (high intention but no regular use of sunscreen) and 139 actors (sunscreen use on a regular basis). No overall treatment effects on planning, but an interaction between time, stage and intervention emerged. The resource communication was more effective for pre-intenders, whereas the planning intervention proved more effective for intenders. A planning treatment was more beneficial in motivated individuals, whereas a broader approach was better for unmotivated ones. Findings highlight the potential that stage-matched interventions might have in the context of sun safety promotion.

Scottish adolescents’ sun-related behaviours, tanning attitudes and associations with skin cancer awareness: a cross-sectional study

“…Testing behaviour change techniques32 which show promise such as those based on dissonance33 34 to address the known discordance between sun protection intention and practice30 35 would also be useful. This research is vital because previous interventions to change sun-safe knowledge and practice have been disappointing36 and it is not known which educational techniques are most effective 37. Despite considerable challenges of effective intervention development for this age group, previous research has found that school-based educational interventions to raise adolescents’ cancer awareness are effective,38 especially among females 21 39.…”

Effects of motives on reactions to safe sun messages

“…Recent research into safe-sun promotion messages suggests that those low on intention to protect demonstrate more favourable outcomes to resource communication interventions whilst those intending to protect demonstrate more favourable outcomes to planning interventions (forming plans to initiate/maintain behaviour) (Craciun, Schuz, Lippke, & Schwarzer, 2012). Based on this research, the present intervention, focusing on communication of risk and precautionary measures, may be most effective amongst those who have not yet formed intentions to sun-protect.…”

Mediation analysis of decisional balance, sun avoidance and sunscreen use in the precontemplation and preparation stages for sun protection

“…Craciun and colleagues (2012b) reported that an intervention involving coping planning (that is, planning specific efforts, both behavioral and psychological to reduce, or minimize anticipated stress related to sun exposure and/or sun protection) was more beneficial in motivated individuals (intenders) compared with unmotivated ones (pre-intenders). Prentice-Dunn, McMath, & Cramer (2009) illustrated that the transition from the precontemplation to contemplation stage of sun protection was promoted by threat appraisal information (exposure graphic photos of cancer lesions, leathery skin and age spots), but transition from contemplation to the preparation stage occurred only when individuals were provided with both high threat and high coping information (threat appraisal photos and information about the benefits of sun avoidance and sunscreen use for skin cancer prevention).…”